Black Maternal Health

Health and Social Care Committee Open Non-inquiry session
Opened: 6 May 2025 Parliament page
Black women in the UK are three times more likely to die in childbirth than White women, highlighting stark ethnic inequalities in maternal health outcomes. A 2022 Women and Equalities Committee inquiry identified systemic barriers, biases, and gaps in care. Several recent policies such as the Maternity Disparities Taskforce and … Read more
9 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
16 Dec
2025
Report published
17 Sep
2025
Report published
14 Jul
2025
Correspondence
18 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
18 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
14 May
2025
Oral evidence
14 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
18 Jun 2025
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Oral Evidence
Janet Fyle MBE · Royal College of Midwives Kate Brintworth · NHS England Professor Bola Owolabi · NHS England Professor Hassan Shehata · Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Professor Lucy Chappell · Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Sylvia Owusu-Nepaul · Birmingham and Solihull United Maternity & Newborn Partnership The Baroness Merron · Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
14 May 2025
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Oral Evidence
Professor Marian Knight · National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Shanthi Gunesekera · Birthrights UK Sonah Paton · Black Mothers Matter Tinuke Awe · Five x More
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - Black Maternal Health HC 895 17 Sep 2025 20 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Deferred
3rd Report - Black Maternal Health
Introduce mandatory, ongoing cultural competency training for all midwives, informed by co-production.
We recommend the Department work with the NHS, the Royal College of Midwives, and the NMC to introduce mandatory, ongoing cultural competency training for all midwives, informed by co-production. A working group should review and update training materials to ensure … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that NHS trust leaders should set clear expectations for tackling racism and outlines work on leader accountability and the establishment of a College of Executive and Clinical Leadership. However, it does not commit to mandatory, ongoing cultural competency training specifically for all midwives or a working group to review training materials.
Department of Health and Social Care
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5 Conclusion Deferred
3rd Report - Black Maternal Health
Lack of diverse representation in NHS leadership and midwifery education limits care.
Addressing the current lack of diverse representation within NHS leadership and midwifery education is one practical action that can be taken to address concerns. When those entrusted with shaping clinical knowledge and practice and leading our healthcare organisations overwhelmingly reflect … Read more
Government Response
The government provides statistics on increases in the overall midwifery workforce and discusses rising complexities in births and potential digital tools for care. It mentions the 10 Year Workforce Plan but refers to a previous response for details, thereby deflecting from the specific recommendation about strategies for diverse representation in leadership and midwifery education.
Department of Health and Social Care
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6 Recommendation Deferred
3rd Report - Black Maternal Health
Include targets and strategies in the workforce plan to diversify NHS maternity leadership.
The Government should also ensure the forthcoming workforce plan explicitly includes targets and strategies to diversify NHS leadership, specifically maternity service leaders and educators. This must be 32 accompanied with robust monitoring mechanisms that can be used to track progress … Read more
Government Response
The government details NHS England's collaboration with the RCOG to ensure optimal staffing levels for high-quality maternity care and its work on job planning principles for obstetric consultants. It does not address the recommendation to include targets and strategies for diversifying NHS leadership in the forthcoming workforce plan.
Department of Health and Social Care
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11 Recommendation Deferred
3rd Report - Black Maternal Health
Require Government to commit to safe maternity staffing and continuity of carer target.
The Government must give firm commitments in the refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver safe staffing levels for maternity services. Without this, safe and sustainable maternity care will remain out of reach. As part of the workforce plan the … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights increases in the midwifery workforce and reiterates commitment to the continuity of carer model. Regarding firm commitments in the refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, they state they are working through how the plan will articulate changes for different professional groups, including midwives and obstetricians.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 20 of 9 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 4
Rejected 3
Total 9 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
14 Jul 2025 Correspondence from Baroness Merron re Black Maternal Health
Parliament page