Addressing access communication and experience in intervention design, delivery and evaluation.
The Maternity Access, Communication and Experience (M-ACE) workstream responds to growing evidence that poor access, communication and experience are both drivers and consequences of maternity disparities. M-ACE functions as a consortium-wide enabling workstream designed to strengthen equitable access, meaningful communication and positive experiences of care across the maternal and early life pathway, particularly among women, babies and families at greatest risk of poor outcomes.
Working across themes, M-ACE addresses real-world barriers experienced during preconception, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care through a set of interconnected functions: improving timely access and engagement; enhancing communication, culturally appropriate information and shared decision-making; and strengthening equitable uptake, pathway fidelity and relational continuity for women affected by cardiometabolic risk, poor mental health and postnatal complications. The workstream will also support clearer communication with families, stronger discharge and transition processes, and improved continuity between hospital and community care.
M-ACE will pilot and evaluate interventions including digital language support tools, community outreach, peer-supported navigation and integrated access pathways across implementation sites. A mixed-methods evaluation will assess feasibility, acceptability, fidelity and early impact on service access and uptake, communication, and women and family-reported experience.