Give clients a map with pins of doulas living in their area.

I am strongly in favour of revising the FAD function. Clients need to know where local doulas are as this may have a real bearing on travel time, sometimes crucial when we are called out suddenly. I am certainly in favour of client choice but there is currently also a real chance that local doulas are overlooked as they are well down the list behind colleagues living many miles away. Prospective clients are unlikely to bother reading more than a few profiles and so doulas in their locality are losing work. The new website is fantastic but a bit of tweaking would be much appreciated.

Most websites offering services have a search facility that gives results based on proximity to the searcher's postcode. I believe the DUK also needs to provide potential customers with a search facility that helps them find doulas in their area.

I stand by many of the comments made other doulas I believe that Doula uk will and are doing their best to resolve this most important issue. By creating a forum in way of a meeting to discuss it further and hopefully by looking at the web design and adding a better system. In the end I think it may be that a majority of doulas would like a local representation and the ones that travel in to London to work are in fact a minority and although it may seem unfair to them more of us are suffering under the current system. And I will say it again this will only mean more and more doulas leaving doula uk which will be bad for all of us

I believe woman who choose to have a birth doula would benefit from a map knowing where doulas are locally to have peace of mind their doula does not live too far away. I often hear from women that their are worried husband/partner, midwife might not make it in time and knowing their doula is local will give them a better choice of support. A location map running next to postcode search would give in honest picture about what support is locally available.

I totally understand the thought process behind the new current FAD system. I think a location map could potentially run along side this - pretty sure you can buy an off the shelf website plug-in that would allow users to filter by location, I think there are even free ones out there.

I feel that by asking clients to put their post code in, then showing clients who could like miles away, we are not being honest. I know there is some small print but I feel clients have a right to know whereabouts their potential doula resides. Therefore I feel that there should be a map showing the location of doulas.

I'm very conscious that a lot of work has been put into redesigning the website's find a doula system and really appreciate that. My main concern is that doula support doesn't function at its best when the support is coming from far afield. I've tried it myself, a few times, and it works entirely against the physiology of simple birth, creating extra decision-making, extra tension, and because of the need to think about getting there on term, the mother can easily end up feeling watched and waited for. Distance = more adrenalin. as such I feel a map would go some way towards women seeing, and hopefully feeling the benefit of nearby support.

I think it is extremely important that women know which area their doula lives. This is particularly important for birth doulas as they need to be able to reach their clients quickly.

I support local doulas serving local women.

Local doulas have local knowledge about what support is available and how to get it. I also think if the mothers want adhoc ongoing support then if he doula lives locally she is more likely to be able to help

I think this is a great idea and would make it easier for people to find local doulas.

This makes much more sense to me with local doulas serving local women.

I think it is vital that we have a map for clients to see where we live and how close we are to them. Especially with birth and how unpredictable labour can be. Local support and knowledge is priceless and clients should have this option.

Potential clients searching for a doula want to know how far apart from them a doula lives. A map makes this far clearer than a postcode ever can. This would also help other doulas who may be looking for backup etc

A map offers a clear picture of location in a way postcodes do not for clients.

Great idea!!!!! Thank you! Allie

A map showing who's really local would be a big help to parents & doulas.

Yes please to a search map!

I think this is important and necessary. A map would be useful for potential clients looking for local doulas.

Me either