Healthier pregnancies, better lives The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) launched the Healthier Pregnancies, Better Lives (HPBL) programme in 2021 with support from Cattanach and The National Lottery Community Fund. Together with healthcare colleagues and those with lived experience in reproductive health, HPBL’s mission is to advance preconception health, education and care throughout Scotland. After two years of being hosted by QNIS, the HPBL programme has now moved to a holding space with partner, Cattanach. Cattanach will support coalition members in deciding on the next steps for the programme. For up to date information on the coalition you can find their new webpage here: Healthier Pregnancies, Better Lives.

Sophie Flemig, Cattanach’s Chief Executive, said:

"Cattanach is clear that prevention is our only chance to avoid unnecessary suffering, and we are delighted to be able to support the HPBL Coalition as it gathers strength and prepares for the next step in its evolution. We hope HPBL’s work can help engage everyone in an empowering and respectful dialogue about pre-conception health – whether they are planning to have children or not."

"As an active HPBL partner ourselves, we are looking forward to going on this journey alongside such fantastic organisations, and we are grateful to Dr. Jonathan Sher for bringing us all together. The time for change is now." QNIS will continue to encourage and support Scotland’s Coalition for Healthier Pregnanices, Better Lives as an organisational partner. We have committed to identifying opportunities to make a positive difference before a woman’s first or next pregnancy. One of the programme successes since inception has been the publication of a report by HPBL Consultant Dr Moira Plant: Women, Alcohol, Pregnancy and FASD.

You can still read the HPBL blogs published by QNIS using the below table. Thanks again to all of our authors, contributors, and steering group members who generously gave their time and shared their expertise to make these blogs possible.