I recently attended a maternity cultural safety symposium hosted by Birthrights. It was an insightful and important event that brought together professionals committed to improving maternity care and outcomes for women and families.
One reflection I often have when attending these events is that many of the same people are present, those who are already passionate about and engaged in cultural safety. While their commitment is invaluable, there is a need for greater attendance and engagement from chief executives, board members, directors of midwifery, chief midwifery officers, and finance leaders. These are the individuals who have the authority and influence to drive meaningful organisational change, allocate resources, and ensure that cultural safety is embedded throughout maternity services.
Cultural safety is not an optional addition to maternity care; it is a maternity imperative. At its core, cultural safety is a patient safety issue. When women and birthing people do not feel heard, respected, understood, or safe within healthcare systems, the consequences can be significant, contributing to poorer experiences, inequitable outcomes, and avoidable harm.
The symposium reinforced the importance of moving beyond discussion and into action. Achieving culturally safe maternity care requires leadership commitment, investment, accountability, and a willingness to challenge existing systems and practices. It is only when cultural safety is recognised as a fundamental component of quality and patient safety that we will see sustainable improvements in maternity care for all communities.
Events such as this provide an important platform for learning, reflection, and collaboration, but the real impact will come when the messages shared in these spaces are championed by those in positions of leadership and translated into tangible changes across maternity services as well as continuing this to all healthcare providers as it doesn’t just belong in maternity.