Fourth Report - The safety of maternity services in England
Select Committee
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 19
6 July 2021
Government response
Command Paper: The Government's Response to the Health and Social Care Committee Report: Safety of maternity services in England · published 21 Sep 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
4
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 38
We further recommend that the Department work with the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists...
Recommendation
We further recommend that the Department work with the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and Health Education England to consider how to deliver an adequate and sustainable level of obstetric training posts to enable trusts to deliver safe obstetric …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts this recommendation, highlighting existing collaboration with HEE and RCOG on workforce planning for obstetrics, gynaecology, and anaesthetics. They note the recent funding for an RCOG tool, to be available next year, which will help NHS Trusts calculate their obstetrician staffing needs.
Department of Health and Social Care
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8
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 55
While it is encouraging that 93% of trusts are meeting the training objective set out...
Conclusion
While it is encouraging that 93% of trusts are meeting the training objective set out in the Maternity Incentive Scheme, it is disappointing that only 8% of units across the UK are meeting the very highest standards of training, as …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is developing a Core Competency Framework and a national Registry of Recommendations to address training variations and ensure minimum core requirements for maternity services. They will also work with Royal Colleges and the CQC on standardising fetal monitoring training.
Department of Health and Social Care
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12
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 72
Clinicians of all disciplines should also receive training before they are qualified in how they...
Recommendation
Clinicians of all disciplines should also receive training before they are qualified in how they should respond to the sorts of error that these investigations may uncover. This would include help for clinicians on accepting a degree of fallibility. Being …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing that maternity services will complete a Training Needs Analysis and NHSEI will work with HEE to ensure national training packages support relevant staff, aligning with the Core Competency Framework.
Department of Health and Social Care
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15
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 80
We recognise the effort of individual organisations to collect data and insights on maternity care.
Conclusion
We recognise the effort of individual organisations to collect data and insights on maternity care. The potential value of this information to drive improvements in maternity care is clear. However, at present these insights are not being fully utilised.
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Government Response Summary
The Government accepts in part, committing to commission a single notification portal (LFPSE) in 2021/22 to streamline data collection and sharing, improve MSDS data, and highlights the existing Maternity Services Dashboard to enhance data utilisation.
Department of Health and Social Care
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22
Recommendation
Accepted
Finally, given their recognition of the role the professional regulators have in ending the blame...
Recommendation
Finally, given their recognition of the role the professional regulators have in ending the blame culture, we recommend that the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council review what changes are required to their remits or working practices …
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Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the recommendation, noting that DHSC is working with regulators and highlighting existing work by the GMC and NMC, such as new guidance, outreach sessions, and commissioned research, which are already addressing the blame culture and supporting a just culture within healthcare.
Department of Health and Social Care
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24
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 137
Having the right skill set, as noted above, is crucial for the successful implementation of...
Recommendation
Having the right skill set, as noted above, is crucial for the successful implementation of continuity of carer. We therefore recommend that those involved in delivering this model have received appropriate training and that all professionals are competent and trained …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts this recommendation, committing to requiring all maternity services to complete a Training Needs Analysis with provided guidance. NHSEI will also work with HEE to ensure national training for 2021/22 supports skill updates for Continuity of Carer teams and care for women from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Department of Health and Social Care
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31
Recommendation
Accepted
It is deeply concerning that maternity units appear to have been penalised for high Caesarean...
Recommendation
It is deeply concerning that maternity units appear to have been penalised for high Caesarean Section rates. We recommend an immediate end to the use of total Caesarean Section percentages as a metric for maternity services, and that this is …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts this recommendation, agreeing that Caesarean Section rates should not be used for performance management and supports the use of Robson criteria. NHSEI will issue further communication advising against total Caesarean rates and encouraging the intelligent use of Robson group data for quality improvement.
Department of Health and Social Care
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