Update on the Maternity and Neonatal Senior Independent Advocate (MNISA) service.

NHS Devon has been part of a national NHS England trial of a MNISA service since September 2023. The trial was offering families advocacy support who had experienced a significant event during their maternity or neonatal journey.

The NHSE national programme have now indicated that they will pause the service and consider the evaluation findings and work with ICBs and others to consider what next and how the evaluation can influence the future shape of any provision.

The MNISA covering Devon has been able to work with a range of families and we have been actively involved in the evaluation to help inform and shape the future. The MNISA for Devon will be retiring from the NHS as of September 2025, we thank her for her contribution to this important offer to families.

Referrals to this service will now ceases to give the national team time to consider and plan next steps. If you have feedback to share relating to your experiences of maternity services in Devon, please contact the PALS team at the hospital where you received your care.