STAR Maternity Project

BSol Maternity Project Hosts First Decision‑Making Conference

More than 50 colleagues from across the Birmingham and Solihull maternity system came together on 29 January for the first Decision‑Making Conference as part of the BSol Maternity Population Health Management (PHM) Project. The event, delivered by the BSol Maternity team with support from the Health Economics Unit, marked an important milestone in the system’s move toward a population‑based approach to improving outcomes for women, babies and families.

Attendees included representatives from Local Authorities, NHS maternity services across University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), Birmingham Women’s and Children’s (BWC), and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, alongside colleagues from Bethel Doula, Maternity Engagement Action, Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), and the ICB.

Opening the event, Phil Johns, Interim Chief Strategy Officer, reinforced the importance of PHM in guiding future decision‑making across the system. He highlighted that the PHM methodology represents a shift away from traditional programme design, encouraging partners to collectively consider how interventions are valued—financially, clinically, and in terms of wider social impact.

Although this approach is new to many parts of the system, the event was marked by strong engagement, thoughtful discussion, and a shared commitment to improving maternity outcomes across Birmingham and Solihull.

Nick Whitehead said: “The first STAR decision conference was an inspiring demonstration of what true system working looks like. We brought together midwives, obstetricians, public health colleagues, community partners and, most importantly, women from across Birmingham and Solihull who generously shared their lived experiences. The quality of the conversations, the honesty in the room, and the willingness to look at our maternity pathway through a shared lens of value, equity and outcomes was exceptional.”

“This whole‑system approach gives us a deeper understanding of what matters to mothers and families in BSol and strengthens our collective ability to tackle inequalities. By exploring the value of current interventions together, drawing on both technical evidence and the voices of women, we are building a stronger foundation for designing services that are safer, more personalised and more responsive to the needs of our communities.”

“We also want to extend our sincere thanks to the colleagues who prepared the unparalleled data, insights and evidence that underpinned the session. Their work gave us a level of clarity and shared understanding that is rare in system conversations. And to the STAR project team, your passion, commitment and incredible hard work made this conference possible. The energy and engagement we saw in the room is a testament to the foundations we have built together.”

The conference also included powerful patient stories, offering candid insight into the realities of the maternity journey. These contributions highlighted both areas of good practice and the challenges that women continue to face, ensuring that future decisions remain rooted in real experiences.

A follow‑up conference will be held in the coming weeks. During this next session, partners will continue to refine priority areas, deepen their understanding of selected interventions, and agree the collective next steps for implementation.

We are applying two proven methodologies to look at our Maternity services. These methodologies are;

• Socio-technical Allocation of Resources (STAR): A structured, participatory approach that combines technical analysis (costs, outcomes, value-for-money) with stakeholder input.
• Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA): A systematic framework for weighing multiple priorities—such as safety, effectiveness, equity, and patient experience.

Together, these approaches provide a transparent, evidence-based way to make resource decisions that balance clinical priorities, patient voices, and financial sustainability.

The insights from this review will not only inform local improvements but also contribute to learning across the NHS.

This opportunity will contribute to the wider national ambitions set out in Better Births, the Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services, and the Core20PLUS5 framework, ensuring equity and safety are at the heart of maternity care.

Although BSol’s maternity services are not under any formal national review scheme, we are not complacent and are constantly seeking to improve care wherever we can.Our patients and communities deserve care in the right place delivered in the right way at the right time, therefore we are delighted to be able to use an approach that could support us in;

• Overcoming persistent inequalities in maternity outcomes across our diverse populations.
• Ensuring we create pathways that withstand increasing pressure from high birth volumes, workforce challenges, and financial constraints.
• Delivering transparency, equity, and care that better meets the needs of our communities aligned with Better Births, the Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services, and the Core20PLUS5 framework.

The project will run through four phases:

1. Programme Set-Up: Governance, stakeholder engagement, and planning.
2. Data Collection: Gathering evidence on costs, outcomes, and population needs, including the voice of staff, and women and families.
3. Decision Conferences: Facilitated workshops where clinicians, managers, and representatives of those who accessed maternity services, agree priorities and recommendations.

Implementation & Evaluation: Turning recommendations into action and sharing learning across the system.

Key organisations across the ICS are working together to deliver this project. This includes:

• BSol ICB
• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
• Wider NHS Provider Organisations
• Birmingham City Council
• Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
• Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (facilitated by Gateway Family Services)
• Voluntary Sector Organisations

This is undoubtedly an ambitious project and the success of this will depend on multiple factors. Through collaboration and participation across the LMNS, we aim to deliver;

• Resources aligned to interventions that deliver the greatest health benefit and equity.
• Decisions that are transparent, inclusive, and grounded in evidence.
• Improved outcomes for families and measurable reductions in inequalities within 12–24 months.