New personalised maternity care plan launched to support women and birthing people across York and Scarborough

06 February 2026

The Trust is pleased to share the launch of a new personalised maternity care plan, introduced this week across its maternity services.

Developed in partnership with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), the care plan has been co-produced with service users to ensure it reflects what women and birthing people want and need from their maternity care.

Every woman and birthing person receiving care through the Trust will now be offered a copy, helping them feel informed, supported, and empowered throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

The personalised care plan is designed to cover the full pregnancy journey, including what to expect at each stage, information to support informed decision-making, and space for individuals to reflect on how they would like their experience to look and feel. It is a document owned by the woman or birthing person, helping them record what matters most, note key choices, and bring their preferences into conversations with their maternity team.

National guidance recommends that women and birthing people have access to personalised care that meets their individual needs, and this new plan is an important step in strengthening person-centred maternity support across York and Scarborough.

Sascha Wells-Munro OBE, Director of Midwifery at the Trust, said: “We’re really excited to see this personalised care plan come to life and be shared with the women and birthing people we care for. It has been shaped by the voices of service users, and that has been so important in making sure it feels practical, reassuring, and meaningful. We hope it will empower families to make informed decisions, while also supporting our teams to deliver truly person-centred care throughout every maternity journey.”

Women and birthing people will usually receive the personalised care plan at their booking appointment with a community midwife. Those already receiving antenatal care will be offered one at their next midwife appointment.

The plan is available as a paper copy and can also be requested in large print or in a preferred language.

The Trust encourages all women and birthing people to bring the care plan along to appointments, using it in whatever way feels most helpful - whether reading it in full or referring to sections as needed - to support open, informed, and reassuring conversations throughout maternity care.