How to get support from a Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate
Anyone can use this page to contact Abbey Harris, the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.
Abbey might be able to support you if:
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your baby died before or during labour, after more than 24 weeks of pregnancy (known as stillbirth).
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your baby died within 28 days of being born.
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The person who gave birth died.
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you had a hysterectomy (your womb was removed) within 6 weeks of giving birth, and you did not expect this to happen.
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you were cared for on the Intensive Care Unit or High Dependency Unit, and you did not expect this to happen.
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you were told your baby has or might have a brain injury.
Whether this is something that happened recently or some time ago, Abbey might be able to help.
You can use the referral form below to share some details with Abbey. After this, she will get in touch with you to talk about what happened in more detail.
If you are here as an NHS employee or support organisation and would like to discuss a potential referral before offering the MNISA service to a family, you can also use this page to get in touch.
You can also phone, email or text Abbey if this is easier for you.
Email: syicb.advocate@nhs.net
Phone Abbey Harris on: 07811 796494
Advocate covering South Yorkshire
Whichever way you contact Abbey, she will aim to get back to you within 7 days.
Abbey will normally be the only person who checks her messages and referrals. If Abbey is away, someone in her team might help her to check if anyone is waiting for a reply. This person must follow the same confidentiality rules as Abbey does around sharing information.
If Abbey is not the right person to help, you can access other support through the links below.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital trusts
The PALS provides help, information and non-medical advice about your care and treatment. It can help you with queries, resolve concerns or making a formal complaint.
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Rotherham Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP)
The role of the MNVP is to listen to the experiences of women and families, and bring together service users and staff to plan, review and improve maternity and neonatal care.
Advocacy services
DIAL Barnsley provide an independent, free and confidential NHS complaints advocacy service.
In Bassetlaw, PohWER Nottinghamshire delivers information, advice, support and advocacy services.
Voiceability Doncaster can provide you with independent advice and support.
Absolute Advocacy Rotherham can provide you with independent advice and support.
Sheffield Advocacy Hub can provide you with independent advice and support.
Useful websites
Sands is here to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss and the death of a baby to offer understanding and comfort.
Tommy’s is dedicated to finding causes and treatments to save babies’ lives as well as providing trusted pregnancy and baby loss information and support.
Bliss is here to support parents and families of premature or sick babies.
Birthrights exist to protect your human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.
Birth Trauma Association supports parents who have experienced birth trauma.
Light Peer Support aims to provide support to families who are affected by perinatal mental health illness in Sheffield and beyond.
PHSO is an independent body that investigates complaints about the NHS and other public organisations in England and UK.
AvMA is a charity that provides advice and support to people affected by medical harm, such as medical errors, infections, or complications. It also campaigns for better patient safety and justice in the UK health system.
