Meet the MNVP Team
Emma Ponsonby - MNVP Chair
Emma is the MNVP Chair, and it is her job to ensure that we meet our goals in line with our workplan. Emma provides a strategic link to the Hospital and Board and leads overall on our projects.
Hello, my name is Emma and I am Chair of the MNVP, but I am first and foremost a service user. I have 4 children, with my youngest being born at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. My first was born at the L&D after I was induced, and my last 3 were all born at home. One of my babies had to go straight to NICU after he was born for tests to be carried out. I received wonderful care from most of the staff that supported me, but also had to fight for the births that I wanted and felt that I wasn’t listened to at times.
My background is within education departments of Local Authorities, supporting Children Looked After and then as a SEND Officer.
I believe that everyone accessing maternity services should be treated kindly and, where safe to do so, get the birth that they hoped for. I was interested in this role as I wanted to be part of creating positive change. I want to be an ally to all those who feel they aren’t heard. Too many women and birthing people are not listened to, or are not treated as they should be and this is not good enough.
It isn’t all bad though! There is also lots and lots of amazing care being provided and we are here to learn from that to and share this great practice.
Michelle Cardinal - Engagement Manager
Michelle is our Engagement Manager, focusing on reaching out to our community, gathering vital feedback and supporting our wonderful volunteers.
I am a mother of four children, all born at the L&D hospital ranging from 2011-2023.
She is passionate about ensuring that all voices are heard and represented and that through this the MNVP can help to develop and progress our local maternity services.
Shabeena Parveen - Inclusion Lead
Shabeena is your MNVP Inclusion lead for ethnic communities.
As a previous service user of the Luton and Dunstable hospital maternity department myself, I felt there was not enough means of support for women to express their views on their maternity experiences/stories
There was always a need for women’s maternity voices to be heard especially from different ethnic backgrounds and my role within Luton maternity voice partnership is pivotal to this.
Luton MNVP is about bringing positive changes to the already amazing service offered by Luton and Dunstable Hospital maternity dept . My experiences from various academic professions will help strengthen community interaction from seldom-heard groups and facilitate participation to make it inclusive for all user representatives
Emily Green - Neonatal Lead
Our Neonatal Lead spends dedicated time working with families to improve the experience of those whose babies require neonatal care.
My third child was born at 27 weeks and after more than 19 weeks in NICU (primarily at Luton but also at GOSH).
I am now keen to use my role with the MNVP to support other families going through a similar journey to have the most positive experience possible in such difficult circumstances.
Vicky Nunes - Communications Lead
Vicky is our Communications Lead and her role is to expand our reach through our social media, surveys, our website and any other means that increase the awareness and accessibility of the MNVP.
Hello, I am the Communications Lead for the Luton & Dunstable MVP. I am mum to three boys, all born at the L&D and two of those are NICU babies due to my having pre-eclampsia.
I received incredible care for myself and my babies, but I remember well how overwhelming the experience was at times. I am passionate about making sure we involve women and their families in the development of services and the planning of their care.
Professionally I have worked in organisational development and management for many years, and ran a communications business for several years also I am grateful that I can bring my professional skills to this role, to learn from the experiences of women and other birthing people, to feed into meaningful change in the services they access.