Blogs

Improving outcomes for women, babies, and families has never been just about clinical expertise. While technical skill saves lives, it is culture, the everyday behaviours, conversations, and values within teams, that determines whether care truly feels safe, compassionate, and equitable. 

Across maternity and neonatal services, staff work under immense pressure, making complex decisions in emotionally charged situations. In these moments, culture matters. It shapes whether someone speaks up, whether a concern is heard, and whether a team pulls together or works in silos. 

In this blog, Head of Programme Delivery (Patient Safety and Improvement), Kay Khan discusses the national Perinatal Culture and Leadership Programme (PCLP), which was created with this understanding at its heart.  

As part of our series of blogs looking back at ten years of East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, Kay Khan, Head of Improvement Programme Delivery, reflects on how the AHSN’s ability to bring people together has helped shift the dial for patient safety in the East Midlands.