The Women and Equalities Committee urges the Government to combat maternal health disparities

The government has been urged to take further action to address maternal health disparities.

A report published in November 2022 from MBRACE UK (which monitors and investigates the causes of maternal deaths, stillbirths and infant deaths) found that Black women were 3.7 times more likely to die than white women during labour, or during the 6 weeks following labour. Further, it concluded that Asian women were 1.8 times more likely to die than white women during the same period.

A report from the Office for National Statistics published in May 2021, based on data between 2007 and 2019, indicates that babies from the Black ethnic group have the highest rates of stillbirths and infant deaths, with babies from the Asian ethnic group consistently the second highest.

In their report on Black Maternal Health of March 2023, the Women and Equalities Committee (a government Select Committee) expressed concern that the Government and NHS Leadership have underestimated the extent to which racism plays a role. It was noted that continuity of carer is a cornerstone of the Government and NHS commitment to deliver safer maternity services for all women. However, the report stated that it is not currently possible to implement this safely, due to the considerable staffing shortages in maternity services.

The Women and Equalities Committee’s recommendations, in its report, include training for healthcare professionals on maternal health disparities and increasing the annual budget for maternity services to £200 - £350 million from the next financial year, to improve continuity of care.

The NHS is undertaking various initiatives to develop a culture of equality and inclusion for maternity staff, which includes providing workforce training and education to address health inequalities.

In addition, work continues to be done across NHS Trusts to identify common themes and patterns in maternity and neonatal care and to share experience, in order to improve outcomes.   

Hill Dickinson recently held a discussion regarding inequalities in maternal care where this topic was considered in detail by a panel of speakers (Wendy Olayiwola (National Maternity Lead for Equality at NHS England), Miss Christina Cotzias (Consultant Obstetrician at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the Maternity Serious Incident Oversight Group for North West London), Miss Emily Barrow (Senior Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in North West London) and Dr Denise Chaffer (Director of Safety and Learning at NHS Resolution).

Please contact one of our specialist maternity solicitors for more information on the talk and any advice regarding maternity care.