New parents across Essex hospitals can now access everything from mealtime details to discharge guidance at their bedside – thanks to a clever new initiative developed in response to patient feedback.
Maternity wards across Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust have introduced A4 wipe-clean placemats packed with key information to support patients throughout their postnatal stay and beyond.
The mats feature details on everything from visiting hours and infant feeding support to going-home checklists and chaplaincy contacts, making sure parents have essential information within easy reach.
They were developed in collaboration with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), alongside input from the Trust’s patient experience team, clinicians, and specialists, making sure they’re not only informative, but also safe and practical.
It was essential to make sure we included the information most important to patients and their families during their hospital stay. Having the placemats on hand means parents can easily refer to important details whenever they need to, this includes key information about the ward, support services available to them and discharge planning.
We know that patients sometimes feel there are delays in discharge, so by clearly outlining the process we aim to set out what to expect and support families in getting ready to go home. Patients will still receive this information from staff, but now they’ll also have it close to hand throughout their stay.
Sarah Soanes, Lead Midwife for Patient Experience at the Trust
As well as including essential discharge planning details, covering the newborn infant physical examination, postnatal video resources, and take-home medication guidance, the placemats also highlight the Birth Reflections service and mental health support. This means parents continue to feel empowered and cared for even after they leave the hospital.
With thoughtful design and practical content, these maternity placemats show how clear communication and patient-focused tools can make a real difference in care and reassurance for new parents.