Maternity services

Visit https://maternitydirect.mse.nhs.uk to chat with a midwife for non-urgent pregnancy advice.

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Firecracker Films to produce a documentary series that follows the inspiring journeys of junior and student midwives at Basildon Hospital.

The documentary, called "The Real Midwives of Essex," will provide a unique glimpse into the daily lives of these dedicated healthcare professionals as they navigate the challenges and rewards of supporting women, birthing people, and families during childbirth.

Over a nine-week filming period, the Firecracker Films team will be granted exclusive access to capture the midwives' experiences first-hand, following them as they provide care to expecting women and birthing people, assist in deliveries, and offer vital support before during and after birth.

"The Real Midwives of Essex" is expected to premiere in 2024 and will air on W and free catch-up service UKTV Play. Additional information about the documentary series, including its broadcast schedule, will be announced in the coming months.

Nicki Abbott, Managing Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are excited to collaborate with UKTV and Firecracker Films to celebrate our student midwives and showcase what an important and rewarding career this is. We hope the series will encourage more midwives to consider working in our hospitals.”

About Firecracker Films

Firecracker Films is a leading independent production company that specialises in creating high-quality documentaries for a global audience. With a focus on human-interest stories and social issues, Firecracker Films is committed to producing thought-provoking and impactful content that resonates with viewers.

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.

UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.

For more information, please contact mse.womensandchildrensdivisioncommunications@nhs.net.

The Mid and South Essex Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) is a team of women, birthing people and their families, commissioners and providers (midwives and doctors) working together to review and contribute to the development of local maternity care. The MNVP welcomes your feedback on your maternity service experience; it is used to make direct improvements to the local services offered.  

If you would like to give feedback via the MNVP about your maternity care, you can email MSESSEXMNVP@gmail.com.

If your baby needs special care after birth, learn more about our neonatal teams on our Premature and sick babies (Neonatal) page.

If you have experienced the loss of a baby, our bereavement team is here to support you.

Learn more about the support we offer on our Bereavement support page.

If you are a current smoker or have quit since finding out you are pregnant a referral is automatically made to our specialist maternity smoking cessation team, following your booking appointment. The team will contact you to discuss the right way in which we can support you, and your household to become smoke free.

Alternatively you can self-refer via the email address at any gestation. Please include your name, date of birth, contact details, address and booking site: Mse.maternitysmokingcessation@nhs.net.

For some further information regarding smoking in pregnancy please visit the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/rvljrnjz/pi-smoking-in-pregnancy.pdf