- Maternity Disparities Taskforce met today (Tuesday 18 April)
co-chaired by Minister Caulfield
- Discussions included developing guidance to support Black
women and women in deprived areas with healthcare before
pregnancy begins
- Next taskforce to convene in Summer 2023
Health Minister co-chaired a meeting of the
Maternity Disparities Taskforce today, setting out her ambition
to ensure all women receive the same high standard of maternity
care, regardless of their race.
The purpose of the taskforce – which is composed of mothers and
clinicians – is to tackle disparities for mothers and babies, and
reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. This will be done through
improving access to care before, during and after pregnancy for
women from ethnic minorities and those living in the most
deprived areas.
Today’s discussions, led by the Minister and the taskforce’s
co-chair, NHS chief midwifery officer Professor Jacqueline
Dunkley-Bent, focused on pre-pregnancy care and developing
guidance to support Black women and women in deprived areas with
healthcare before pregnancy begins, to give women and their
babies the best possible start for life.
Minister for Women’s Health Strategy said:
“Regardless of race or background, everyone should receive the
highest quality maternity care.
“All stages of a woman’s life, from before she is pregnant to
after delivery, are crucial to the health and wellbeing of both
mother and baby.
“Today we met with mothers and healthcare experts to ensure women
from ethnic minorities and those from deprived areas have access
the right care and support for their journey into parenthood –
and are listened to throughout this experience.
“We are considering the outcomes of the taskforce, and I will be
monitoring progress closely to ensure real change can be made.”
The work of the taskforce builds on recent efforts to make the
NHS the safest place in the world to give birth for all women,
including:
- Investing £165 million since 2021 to grow the maternity
workforce
- Promoting careers in midwifery by an extra 3,650 training
places each year
- Ensuring every local NHS maternity system in the country has
a plan in place to tackle disparities on a local level
The next taskforce will next convene in Summer 2023.
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