Committee chair comments on Care Quality Commission report

Responding to the report, The state of health care and adult social care in England 2022/23, published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Health and Social Care Committee Chair Steve Brine MP said:

“We have repeatedly raised concerns about the state of maternity services. In April the government acknowledged our conclusion on workforce that maternity services were under unsustainable pressure. Ministers agreed with our call for them to intervene with immediate action on recruitment and retention, necessary to relieve pressure in the system and ensure positive birthing experiences for everyone, regardless of their racial or socioeconomic background.

“It is therefore disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising, that the CQC echoes our findings in its report. People are entitled to good quality maternity care, above all services must be safe. Issues around leadership, staffing and communication cannot continue to go unaddressed.”

“We will continue to press Ministers on the Long Term Workforce Plan which must address the pressures affecting not only the staff who deliver services but the quality of care they are able to offer to patients.”