Emma O'Brien

Public health communications. I enjoy baking, dragons and interpretive dance. Views my own.

[Emma O'Brien @OBrienEmma87]

I’ve had a hysteroscopy and HSG without anaesthetic (general or local) and it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. The second procedure went on for 40 minutes, I cried the whole way through. Well done to the women here who have spoken out.

https://t.co/UIH5wtSH9S

[Sophy Ridge @SophyRidgeSky]

There’s a story today that I really want talk about.
The Birth Trauma Inquiry – by a cross party group of MPs – has called for a national plan to improve maternity care, after speaking to 1,300 women and finding “shockingly poor quality” in how we look after women giving birth.
In the Politics Hub team call this morning, I joked that after having two children in recent years I had become radicalised when it comes to maternal health care.
But if I’m being honest with you, it’s not really a joke – I DO feel radicalised on it.
Because maternity care in the UK is, in my opinion, really quite shocking.
And my own experiences and the experiences of other mums I talk to isn’t just anecdote, it’s supported by inquiries like this one: which found poor care in maternity services is “frequently tolerated as normal”, and poor quality postnatal care is an “almost universal theme” (well you can say that again.)
Once again there’s a theme of women just not being listened to. And that’s particularly the case if you’re a woman from a non white background.
Maternal mortality for black women is currently almost four times higher than for white women.
And if you’re still not radicalised like me yet, how about this statistic:
1 in 5 stillbirths and neonatal deaths may have been prevented with better care, according to the charity Sands. This equates to over 800 babies a year - over 25 classrooms of children whose lives could have been saved.
Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, has told Sky News today that there’s a three year plan and we’re in a transition period.
And look, I welcome today’s report, of course I do. But I’ve got a horrible feeling that this will end up being just another report into poor maternity care that’s swept under the carpet. When really we need to be demanding serious change. Because THIS is an absolute scandal.
We'll have more on tonight's #PoliticsHub 7pm

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

If you missed tonight's Countryfile, you can catch up now on @BBCiPlayer. On the show, our Head of Medical Entomology talks about UKHSA's #tick surveillance scheme and some of the findings so far #BeTickAware

https://t.co/om31dU7HtE

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

Is your child up to date with their vaccinations? Make sure you know by checking their Red Book or contacting your GP surgery to find out & book in any missed doses. 📱📅

More info: https://t.co/iT1c5LUCvR

[MBRRACE UK @mbrrace]

Latest UK maternal mortality figures released today. The maternal death rate in 2020-22 was 13.41 per 100,000 maternities. This is significantly 53% higher than the rate of 8.79 deaths per 100,000 maternities in the previous three year period (2017-19). https://t.co/uSxGAvw3rA

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

If you have an ongoing health condition, are pregnant or over 65 years old, get your free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. If your child is aged 2 or 3 get their free flu vaccine.

Check eligibility and book now at https://t.co/U738tFN3Sc
#GetWinterStrong

[Theo Clarke @theodoraclarke]

That was the most emotional speech I’ve ever given. It was an honour to host the first ever debate on this issue in our Parliament. I’m thrilled that the Government has listened to my call to do more to tackle #birthtrauma.

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

UTIs are a leading cause of E. coli bloodstream infections in England and contribute to antibiotic resistance. 💊

🔵1/4 of urine samples in 1st half of 2023 had antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 😷

🔵Prevention is key to avoiding UTIs.
Find out more: https://t.co/KnmYyR6oYn.

[Emma O'Brien @OBrienEmma87]

‘Why are they not on Wikipedia?’: Dr Jess Wade’s mission for recognition for unsung scientists https://t.co/dQMRT4KChZ

[Emma O'Brien @OBrienEmma87]

@SelinaWray @AlzResearchUK Ha, I was on call at work so had a head start on reading the news!

[Emma O'Brien @OBrienEmma87]

Oh hello @SelinaWray! It's been a long time since I've worked at @AlzResearchUK but always great to see the great progress being made! https://t.co/PprKluC9A6

[TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) @TechnicallyRon]

I took 1 star reviews of #Barbie from furious men on letterboxd and put them on the posters because it makes the film seem ever cooler.

[Diane Ashiru, PhD @DrDianeAshiru]

#SharedLearning, networking & collaboration essential at the #AntibioticGuardianAwards.

Shortlisted videos and posters available on the #AntibioticGuardian shared learning platform https://t.co/LazYPaSSDo

Abstracts via MedicalSciencesForum Journal https://t.co/jk2XyBFU1D

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Superbug study to invite 2,000 stool samples https://t.co/Kbk8xRMXqL

[Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute]

CHILDCARE IN THE BUDGET 👶 - WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

It looks like the 30 hour policy for 3 and 4 yos will be extended to 1 and 2 yos.

What do you need to know about the 30 hour policy, and what key Qs should you consider when looking at the full announcement later today? 🧵

[BBC Eurovision @bbceurovision]

Our UK artist for #Eurovision2023 is the incredible @maemuller_! 🎉

Here she is with the official video for her #Eurovision track, 'I Wrote A Song' 🥳

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

It's International Day of Women and Girls in Science today, so we're celebrating the inspirational women at UKHSA whose hard work and expertise contributes to protecting the health of the nation. Thank you! 👏👏
#February11 #WomenInScienceDay #GirlsInScienceDay

[Alison Brown @alison_e_brown]

Our latest report can be found here: https://t.co/ZMyMHOZwQP

This framework monitors progress against England’s HIV action plan to reduce HIV transmission by 80% and AIDS and deaths by 50% between 2019 and 2025 ( 🧵 1/6)

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

#AntimicrobialResistance is something we all need to be aware of and understand the impact it could have.

Help #KeepAntibioticsWorking by only using them when prescribed by a healthcare professional & making sure to finish taking the full course of antibiotics. #WAAW

[UK Health Security Agency @UKHSA]

WATCH: Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA on vaccinating children to help protect against #flu & where your child can get their free #fluvaccine, depending on their age.

More info ➡ https://t.co/MWb9ZfUYbN