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Journal Vol. 21, No. 1 — Campaigning, Complaining and Caring

ISSN 0256-5004 (Print)

Editorial - So what's your problem?
Alice Charlwood considers why so few women complain about poor maternity care

Complaining about complaints
Maria C - One woman's courageous search for answers

Postnatal care
Ingrid Wall talks about her experience of using the PALS service to complain

Birth space, safe place: environment, people and attitudes to pain during labour
Adela Stockton explores our perception of pain

The Power of User Pressure
MSLC Chair Michelle Barnes campaigns successfully to reduce the caesarean rate in Sheffield

A story from the north
Alison Philp shares the story of her birth and complaint outcomes

Obituaries
Dr Betty Tylden
Lady Mickelthwaite

Complaints are heard
Journal Editor Vicki Williams reports on some actions taken in response to complaints

Denied a home birth
Sara Shah tells her story of staff shortages and lack of choice

What makes a good birth?
Jenny Gaskell shares a story of tragedy, triumph and the value of good support, a story which suggests we question what actually defines a good birth experience

Book Reviews:

Also in this issue:

Letters - Child protection?

Latest Content

Journal

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Events

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AIMS Workshop: Wellbeing

AIMS is delighted to be hosting a Wellbeing workshop delivered by Ruth Weston , veteran birth activist, AIMS volunteer and author of 'Born Stroppy Make Change Happen'. Th…

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Threads of Protest

Join us for the launch of Threads of Protest A new exhibition at Science Gallery London exploring inequality in maternity care through creative practice, lived experience…

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AIMS Workshop: Focusing on Rights i…

Join us for one of our series of interactive online AIMS workshops, " Focusing on Rights in Pregnancy and Birth ". Emma Ashworth (principal author of "The AIMS Guide to Y…

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Latest Campaigns

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Making sense of maternity service r…

By Jo Dagustun, Senior Campaigns Volunteer As readers grapple with the latest set of national recommendations and actions from Donna Ockenden's Nottingham report , Valeri…

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AIMS comments on the 10 Point Plan…

In the light of two recently-published hefty reports on the past and present functionality of the maternity and neonatal services, first in Nottingham and then across Eng…

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Open letter to Michelle Welsh MP, N…

17th June 2026 Dear Michelle The AIMS Campaigns Team, and AIMS more broadly, would like to warmly welcome you to your new role as National Maternity Advisor. We look forw…

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