Black maternal health

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Non-inquiry session
Opened: 23 Mar 2022 Closed: 1 May 2024 Parliament page
5 Recommendations
1 Conclusion
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
10 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
30 Jun
2023
Report published
18 Apr
2023
Report published
30 Mar
2023
Correspondence
1 Mar
2023
Correspondence
14 Feb
2023
Correspondence
16 Nov
2022
Correspondence
16 Nov
2022
Correspondence
20 Oct
2022
Correspondence
20 Oct
2022
Correspondence
20 Oct
2022
Correspondence
20 Oct
2022
Correspondence
13 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
13 Jul 2022
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Black maternal health
Dr Matthew Jolly · NHSEI James Morris · Department of Health and Social Care William Vineall · Department of Health and Social Care
30 Mar 2022
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Black Maternal Health
Amy Gibbs · Birthrights Dr Christine Ekechi · Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professor Marian Knight · National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Tinuke Awe · Five x More
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Black maternal health HC 94 18 Apr 2023 6 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
1 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Black maternal heal…
The causes of the appalling disparity in maternal deaths are multiple, complex and still not...
The causes of the appalling disparity in maternal deaths are multiple, complex and still not fully understood. Fixating on any one cause risks over-simplifying the problem and placing blame on the very women who are most at risk. Too many … Read more
Government Response
NHS England will carry out a scoping exercise to fully understand the implications of co-ordinating a review of training curricula and continuing professional development requirements for all maternity staff.
Government Equalities Office
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2 Recommendation Acknowledged
Third Report - Black maternal heal…
Continuity of carer is a cornerstone of the Government and NHS commitment to deliver safer...
Continuity of carer is a cornerstone of the Government and NHS commitment to deliver safer maternity services for all women. It is simply not possible to implement it safely, however, due to the considerable staffing shortages across maternity services. A … Read more
Government Response
The government says NHS services will ensure the right numbers of the right staff are available to provide the best care for women and babies and that it is investing in recruitment and retention, having already invested an additional £165m recurrently in maternity and neonatal services since March 2021.
Government Equalities Office
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3 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Black maternal heal…
We note that, at the time of writing this report, the Maternity Disparities Taskforce has...
We note that, at the time of writing this report, the Maternity Disparities Taskforce has not met for nine months. If it continues, it must have tangible metrics to measure its success. The Government should publish measures for gauging the … Read more
Government Response
The government will update the Committee on a six-monthly basis on the progress of the Taskforce but will not publish minutes from the Taskforce or measures for gauging its success.
Government Equalities Office
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4 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Black maternal heal…
It is unclear how the Equity and Equality guidance will be implemented and monitored.
It is unclear how the Equity and Equality guidance will be implemented and monitored. In response to this report, NHS England should set out their approach for assessing and monitoring the strategies of local maternity services. The Government should also … Read more
Government Response
NHS England has reviewed local maternity systems' equity and equality action plans and will require all LMNSs to publish their plans by 31 March 2024, while also monitoring relevant data and providing regional and national support.
Government Equalities Office
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5 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Black maternal heal…
The main solutions which have been put forward by the Government and NHS are necessary...
The main solutions which have been put forward by the Government and NHS are necessary but insufficient to tackle the problem of the disparity in maternal 26 Black maternal health deaths. A target for eliminating the disparity between Black and … Read more
Government Response
The Government does not believe a target and strategy is the best approach towards progress and will instead measure progress against equity aims through metrics described in the Equity and Equality Guidance for Local Maternity Systems.
Government Equalities Office
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6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Black maternal heal…
Black women are regularly underrepresented in research or data and therefore in policymaking.
Black women are regularly underrepresented in research or data and therefore in policymaking. Ethnicity data held by trusts is incomplete or inaccurate. Crucial data is delivered too slowly to the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, which delays MBRRACE-UK releasing the data … Read more
Government Response
NHS England will work to update the classification used for the collection of ethnicity data to include more granular information; the Operational Planning Guidance for 2023/24 recognises the importance of improving the completeness of data on patient characteristics.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 6 of 5 classified
Accepted 1
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 1
Rejected 1
Total 5 recs + 1 conclusion
Correspondence 10 letters
30 Mar 2023 From committee Letter to the Committee from the Minister for mental health and the women’s health strategy on black maternal health
Parliament page
1 Mar 2023 From committee Letter to the Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy relating to Black maternal health
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14 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from Maria Caulfield to Caroline Nokes on the Maternity Disparities Taskforce
Parliament page
16 Nov 2022 From committee Letter to the Chair from the Chief Midwifery Officer in response to letter dated 8 September regarding Black maternal health
Parliament page
16 Nov 2022 From committee Letter to the Chair from Professor Marian Knight, Professor of Maternal and Child Population Health regarding Black maternal health
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Interim Deputy National Statistician and Director General for Health, Population, and Methods, Office of National Statistics, relating to the evidence sessions on Black Maternal Health
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20 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Health relating to the evidence session on Black Maternal Health
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20 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the NHS Confederation relating to black maternal health
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20 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to Professor of Maternal and Child Population Health, relating to Black maternal health.
Parliament page
13 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to then Minister for Primary Care and Patient Safety, regarding the Maternity Disparities Taskforce, dated 1 March 2022
Parliament page