Author: Gwyneth Lonergan

How can we improve support for  pregnant migrants?

The findings from this research project will be discussed at end of project workshops in Manchester, Leeds, & Kirklees (see details below).  The goal of these workshops is to bring together migrant women, migrant support organisations, NHS staff, and other key stakeholders to discuss how we can apply the findings from this project to better support pregnant migrants in the future.

These workshops are open to anyone interested, including:

• Migrant parents
• Migrant activists, allies and supporters
• NHS staff

Childcare & lunch will be provided.  Travel costs refunded for people on low incomes.

Manchester workshop: 16 June, 9.45 -2.45 (registration open at 9).  Z-arts, 335 Stretford Rd, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA

Leeds workshop: 30 June, 9.45 – 2.45 (registration opens at 9).  St George’s Conference Centre, 60 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3DL

Kirklees workshop: 4 July, 9,45-2.45 (registration opens at 9).  Brian Jackson House, 2 New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP

Registration is required, both to ensure we have enough catering and childcare, and also for Covid Safety.  Please email Gwyneth Lonergan on g.lonergan@lancaster.ac.uk to register or for more information.

Findings from this project will be presented at the British Sociological Association’s Medical Sociology Month.  For this, I have created a dedicated page discussing some of the findings – BSA MedSoc: Pregnant Migrants and the Ubiquitous Border.  The page is password protected; please email me for the password.

At present, I am interviewing NHS staff who work with pregnant migrants in Leeds, Manchester, or Kirklees.  Please get in touch if you qualify and are interested in being interviewed.

In addition, I am wrapping up interviews with migrant mothers, but I am still looking especially to interview:

a) women who have been asked to pay for their maternity care;

b) Europeans living in Leeds or Kirklees

Again, please get in touch if you would like to be interviewed, and share information about this project widely.

Thanks!

Please check out the Project Blog, and its first post, ‘Pregnant migrants and ‘the local‘.  In this post, I discuss why I am researching migrant women’s experiences of maternity care in Manchester, Leeds, and Kirklees specifically.

Also, I am pleased to announce that I will present a paper based on the findings from this project, Born in the NHS?  Pregnant migrants and the UK National Health Service as an ‘affective borderscape’ at this year’s American Sociological Association annual conference, which will be held virtually.   The long abstract for this paper will be posted on the blog prior to the conference.  Please watch for updates.

I am pleased to announce that a working paper, Who is a ‘temporary migrant’? Deservingness, nationalism, and migrant access to the NHS, has been published by Doctors Within Borders in their collection Healthcare Mobilities & National Health Systems: Working Papers Collection.  Please visit the News and Publications page for more information.

NEW PUBLICATION!!
I am pleased to announce that a working paper, Who is a ‘temporary migrant’? Deservingness, nationalism, and migrant access to the NHS, has been published by Doctors Within Borders in their collection Healthcare Mobilities & National Health Systems: Working Papers Collection.  Please visit the News and Publications page for more information.

This project explores migrant women’s experiences of maternity care within the NHS in the north of England.  The project looks at these experiences within a wider context of: border controls within the NHS; NHS budget cuts and restructuring; and state and social anxieties around women’s roles in reproducing the nation.  I am working with community groups to ensure that the findings from this project will be helpful to pregnant migrants and the people and organisations that support and care for them.

This project is funded by Wellcome and based at Lancaster University.