Open Your Eyes: Maternity in Crisis is a powerful investigation led by deaf reporter Erika Jones into the hidden communication and cultural failures affecting deaf mothers at their most vulnerable. Through deeply personal testimonies, the film reveals how a lack of interpreters, poor cultural understanding, and systemic neglect can lead to fear, trauma, and is associated with postnatal depression. We follow Lisa, Alije and Honesty as they recount their experiences of childbirth and neonatal care without adequate communication support within maternity services. From emergency procedures carried out without explanation, to life-changing decisions made without full consent, their personal testimonies expose critical gaps in care that put both mothers and babies at risk.
Despite legal protections under the Equality Act and NHS policies designed to ensure accessible communication, such as the Accessible Information Standard, this film uncovers evidence that these safeguards are not enforced or at times even understood. With expert insight, shocking statistics, and freedom of information investigations into NHS data, it asks a vital question: is the system failing deaf families?
This is a stark and urgent look at inequality in maternity care - and a call for social change before more families are affected.
This half an hour BSL programme is a co-production between Rare TV and Flashing Lights Media for LumoTV. Reported by Erika Jones, executively produced by Emma Barker and Emma Glassar, and directed by Simon Gilchrist.
You can watch the first episode here on our website and here on YouTube.
