Northern Trust maternity services become more autism-friendly with new support measures

Midwife Shelley Sheppard and Sister Elaine O’Boyle from Antrim Area Hospital maternity team

The Northern Trust has enhanced its maternity services to better support autistic women and neurodivergent families, becoming the first maternity team in Northern Ireland to receive an autism-friendly accreditation.

The Trust’s maternity team has implemented a series of improvements designed to make pregnancy, birth and early parenting more accessible, calmer and more personalised for autistic service users.

The changes follow extensive collaboration with specialist charities and colleagues across the organisation.

Deputy Head of Midwifery, Helen Weir, said:

“We know that women with neurodiversity often face distinct challenges throughout the perinatal period, which can greatly influence their experiences in relation to pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

“As a team we are committed to providing personalised, inclusive maternity for all and recognised that we could do more to reduce the challenges that can be faced by autistic women and neurodivergent families in our care.

“With this in mind, we worked with colleagues in the Trust, as well as specialist charities to identify and implement improvements. We looked at everything from the way we provide information, to the practicalities of attending appointments, to the physical environment of our wards and birthing suites.

“This enabled us to strengthen the support we provide and enhance the accessibility of our services.

“We want everyone who uses our services to feel understood, safe and supported during pregnancy and birth. If you’re currently using our services and would like to avail of this support or request adjustments, then please speak to your midwife.”

Award-winning improvements

The Trust’s efforts have already been recognised with multiple awards, including the Autism NI Impact Award, which marks the team as the first maternity service in Northern Ireland to secure the autism-friendly accreditation.

Most recently, the service has also been shortlisted for a UK-wide Royal College of Midwives award.

What support is now available?

The Northern Trust has introduced a range of measures across its maternity services to strengthen support for autistic women and families:

• Specially trained staff

Teams now include staff trained in sensory awareness, communication preferences and accessible appointment practices.

• JAM (Just a Minute) communication aid

Maternity staff have been trained to recognise the JAM Card and JAM App, which discreetly signal that a person needs ‘Just A Minute’ of patience and additional support.

• Easy-read documentation

Appointment letters and patient leaflets are now available in easy-read format to reduce anxiety and improve clarity. These can be requested from maternity reception staff or a midwife.

• Sensory-friendly equipment

To help regulate sensory needs, the Trust can provide ear defenders, weighted blankets, quiet spaces, fidget toys and dimmed lighting across maternity settings.

• Adapted appointments

Adjustments can be made to reduce anxiety, including longer appointment slots, first or last appointments of the day, and pre-visit virtual or guided tours of maternity spaces.

The Trust says the changes are part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring that all women feel understood, supported and safe during pregnancy and childbirth.