Baroness Merron, Minister for Women’s Health, has appeared as a guest on a podcast run by our colleagues at Sparkbrook Children’s Zone.
The Baroness was interviewed by Chiara Luxmoore, our Communications and Development Officer, and their conversation covered a range of important topics, including:
- The barriers women, particularly pregnant women, face when accessing healthcare services.
- How reproductive and sexual health advice can be delivered in an empowering, safe and confidential way.
- Whether more health services can be delivered in community settings rather than traditional clinical environments.
Baroness Merron's podcast appearance follows her visit to Sparkbrook Children’s Zone earlier this year. During her visit, the Minister met a patient who had received support from the Sparkbrook Children’s Zone clinic and spoke with colleagues delivering early intervention services across Birmingham.
Dr Caroline Wolhuter, our Head of Prevention and Early Intervention, said:
"In February, we launched our Women's Offer, which aims to prevent infant mortality, increase awareness of contraceptive options, and reduce health inequalities in Birmingham.
"We were delighted to welcome Baroness Merron earlier this year and are grateful for another opportunity to engage with the Minister on the issues affecting women's health in our city and beyond.
"The Baroness has recognised the strengths of our integrated partnership model, which delivers services within the community rather than in a clinical setting."
Launched last year, the Sparkbrook Children’s Zone podcast provides regular episodes packed with advice on children’s and women’s health. Covering a diverse range of topics, including fussy eating, female genital mutilation (FGM) and benefits advice, the podcast is a valuable resource for families and the professionals who support them.
Episodes are available on two leading podcast platforms and typically last around 15 minutes, making them an easy and accessible listen.