09/06/2026
A new national research consortium involving researchers from the University of Bedfordshire will bring together leading universities, NHS organisations, and community partners to develop evidence-based solutions that help ensure every woman and family receives high-quality, equitable maternity care.
Funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led by the Universities of Newcastle and Birmingham, the NIHR Inequalities Challenge: Maternity Disparities Consortium will unite higher education, NHS, community and voluntary organisations to close the most critical gaps in maternal care.
The University of Bedfordshire is leading the Consortium’s Maternity Care Access, Communication and Experience (M-ACE) workstream. The University’s Maternal and Child Health Research Centre brings internationally recognised expertise in maternal health equity, interdisciplinary applied research, and the co-design of community-based interventions to improve outcomes for underserved and marginalised populations.
Led by Dr Shuby Puthussery, Dr Jenny McNeill and Steph Heys the M-ACE workstream focuses on improving equitable access to care, strengthening communication between women, families and healthcare professionals, and enhancing experiences of maternity and neonatal care through development and testing of interventions across the programme.
Read more: https://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2026/june/university-of-bedfordshire-leads-pioneering-research-to-transform-access-communication-and-experience-of-maternal-health-care 👈
