ICB Questions 14th May ‘26
Integrated Care Boards, or ICBs, are the NHS bodies responsible for planning, commissioning and overseeing health services in their local area. In Gloucestershire, the NHS Gloucestershire ICB Board is responsible for key decisions about how local NHS services are organised, funded and monitored.
ICB Board meetings are held in public, which means members of the public can attend, observe proceedings, and submit questions in advance. These meetings are one of the few formal routes available for local people to ask direct questions about NHS decision-making, risk assessment, equality duties, consultation and service changes.
Gloucestershire Maternity Action Group intends to follow these meetings closely, attend where possible, and submit public questions where maternity service changes raise concerns for women, babies, families or midwives. We believe decisions about maternity care should be transparent, evidence-based, properly risk assessed, and shaped by the women and communities affected by them.
For the ICB meeting on 13th May 2026, GMAG submitted questions regarding recent changes to the postnatal care pathway. These questions focused on clinical risk assessment, breastfeeding establishment, maternal mental health, physical recovery after birth, equality impact, and whether service users and relevant professionals were properly consulted before the changes were implemented.
The questions submitted are set out below.
Dear NHS Glos Trust Corporate Governance Team,
Please accept the following questions for submission to the upcoming NHS Trust Board meeting on Thursday 13th May regarding the recently implemented changes to the postnatal care pathway.
In addition, please note that two members of the public wish to attend the meeting to observe proceedings.
Risk Assessment
I am concerned about the potential impact of recently implemented changes to the postnatal pathway on breastfeeding rates, maternal mental health, and physical health. I note the increased clinical risk posed by requiring women to attend clinic-based appointments so soon after birth, including risk of postpartum haemorrhage and wound complications. I note the significant impact on breastfeeding establishment of requiring people to leave their homes and interact with unfamiliar practitioners at a critical and vulnerable time. I am concerned that the burden of travel will cause the most vulnerable women to miss clinical contact altogether, at precisely the point when they most need it. What clinical risk assessment was undertaken prior to implementing the changes to the postnatal pathway, particularly in relation to breastfeeding establishment, maternal mental health, postpartum haemorrhage, wound complications, and the risks associated with requiring women and newborns to attend clinic-based appointments shortly after birth?
Evidence Base and Consultation
What evidence base informed the decision to move towards a more clinic-based postnatal model, and what consultation was undertaken with midwives, health visitors, infant feeding specialists, and service users before implementation?Equality Impact Assessment
Was an Equality Impact Assessment completed prior to implementation, in line with the Trust’s duties under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010? In particular, how were the impacts on women without access to transport, those living in deprived areas, younger mothers, disabled women, and women from minority ethnic backgrounds assessed, and will this assessment be made publicly available?
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your response.
Emma Hetherington
07867977857
Gloucestershire Maternity Action Group
Supporting This Work
Following ICB Board meetings, preparing public questions, reviewing documents, submitting FOI requests and challenging unsafe or poorly evidenced service changes all takes time and consistent attention.
GMAG is a community-led group, and this work is strengthened when more local people are involved. If you care about protecting safe, local, midwifery-led maternity care in Gloucestershire, you can support the work by becoming a GMAG member.
Membership helps fund the practical costs of this work, including research, administration, public information, website updates, campaign materials and advocacy. There is no obligation to take on a role or attend meetings unless you want to. Simply becoming a member helps show that local families care about maternity services and want decisions to be transparent, lawful and properly informed.
Members will be kept updated about key developments, public meetings, consultations, actions and opportunities to get more involved.
Become a GMAG member and help us keep maternity services in Gloucestershire visible, accountable and centred on women, babies and families.