Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for signing this petition – over 3000 signatures in 5 days is pretty incredible and we have been BUSY!
So, to update you all, the Homerton maternity management team had a meeting on Monday morning with the homebirth team and there is no change to the published statement on the website. Therefore we’ve had to escalate further.
We have submitted a Freedom of Information Act request, ccing in the maternity team and MP Meg Hiller and Hackney mayor Zoe Garbett.
You can find the template for that here and you are very welcome to put this request in too. They have to respond within 20 days or face further escalation.
We have also followed up with NHS England on the review claims.
We have formed a working group of midwives, birth workers, local parents, representatives from Birthrights.org and legal representation and we are currently seeking legal advice for the families directly affected.
If you would like to get involved with this working group, you can join the WhatsApp group here.
We are contacting various members of the press and have secured a slot on ITV news this Friday night. They will be interviewing 5 of the families directly affected by the suspension and a representative from Birthrights.
We have created a template for you to send to your local MP now updated to include the new potential date of restarting – please find the link here. We will be pursuing in Parliament when they’re back from recess.
Next steps!
We have arranged a protest for Tuesday 29th September at 11am at Homerton hospital. Please come along, everyone is truly welcome! Bring your family, your banners and your voices!
If you can't come, sharing the post that's on my Instagram (@hackneyhypnobirthing) is also much appreciated.
If you think you can help with anything else from legal to press to celebrity connections, anything really, please either join the WhatsApp group as above or you can DM on Instagram @hackneyhypnobirthing
With deepest gratitude, love and solidarity.
Anna and the whole team.