Former Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson is feeling “genuinely optimistic” after meeting Health Secretary Wes Streeting to discuss her petition to appoint a maternity commissioner and improve care for mothers and babies.
The reality TV star, who nearly lost her life while delivering her son Leo in November 2021, met with the politician on April 28 to discuss her ongoing campaign.
In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Thompson, 36, provided an update to her followers on what Mr Streeting “had to say” during the meeting, which she attended alongside Conservative MP Theo Clark, co-creator of the petition.
The television personality wrote: “The first role of any government is to leave something better for the next generation than it inherited from its own.
“After last week, I feel genuinely optimistic that Wes Streeting might do that.”
Thompson said that Mr Streeting told her he was “definitely open to the idea” of appointing a maternity commissioner, which she described as a “big win”.
She said he described their conversation as “timely” while they await the publication of Donna Ockenden’s next investigation and the Maternity Review led by Baroness Amos, both of which are expected to be published over the coming months.
The former reality star said Mr Streeting told her that they are likely to accept those recommendations unless there is a “very good reason not to”.
The post continued: “I picked up on something else interesting. He dropped in the name ‘maternity safety commissioner’ quite a few times while chatting in the meeting.
“Not sure whether it was a slip of the tongue, but that actually sounded like a really appropriate name for what this could and should be, and if they were to agree to it, I know there would be mothers sobbing in all corners of the country who are simply desperate to see maternity care in this country do better for tomorrow’s mother.
“Please, Wes, do it for the broken and bereaved.”
Thompson said Mr Streeting “made it clear this isn’t a dead end if it doesn’t land immediately”, adding: “Even if the current review doesn’t include it, he could.”
The mother said she feels “positive” writing the post, adding: “I feel like the door here isn’t just ajar, but it’s been kicked wide open.”
She encouraged her followers to carry on sharing their stories and sign the petition, which has garnered more that 154,000 signatures.
Thompson has been an advocate for improving maternity care since the birth of her son, which caused her to have an emergency Caesarean section after her baby’s head became wedged in her pelvis during the late stages of labour.
The NHS medical team operated for three hours to stop a haemorrhage while she was awake and not under general anaesthetic. Subsequent PTSD episodes left her screaming in bed and paralysed.
Following the birth of her son, Thompson also got a stoma bag after a total colectomy to remove her colon due to having ulcerative colitis, a chronic bowel condition which leads to parts of the gut becoming swollen, inflamed and ulcerated.
She also suffers from lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition that has left her with exhaustion and joint pain, and said she was diagnosed with hydrosalpinx – a condition where a fallopian tube becomes blocked and swells with watery fluid.
Ms Ockenden is a senior midwife leading a team of doctors and midwives working in maternity services to review cases of serious and potentially serious concern.
