Women and families failed by maternity services will be better
heard and their experiences will drive lasting improvements to
care, as MP has been appointed as
the government's first Maternity Advisor.
Welsh will work directly with families, the government, the NHS
and key maternity organisations to push for better, safer care
for mothers, babies and families.
She will meet regularly with ministers to share evidence and
advice, and work with families and communities to bring a wide
range of voices into the heart of the government's action to
improve maternity services. There will be a special focus on
those from communities that face the greatest health
inequalities.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Far too many women and families have been let down by maternity
services, and that must change.
brings exactly the
commitment and expertise this role demands, and I know she will
be a powerful champion for the women and families.
Today marks a significant step forward in our determination to
make maternity care safer for every mother and baby in England.
, MP and Maternity Advisor
said:
I am honoured to have been appointed as the National Maternity
Advisor to the Government.
This role is deeply personal to me. Like far too many women
across this country, I know what it feels like to come through
childbirth carrying both physical and emotional scars. That
experience has strengthened my determination to fight for safer,
more compassionate maternity care for every family.
As National Maternity Advisor, I will work tirelessly to drive
forward meaningful reform focused on safer staffing, stronger
accountability, listening to women, tackling inequalities and
ensuring lessons are learned when failures happen.
This is about rebuilding trust and creating a maternity system
that is not only safer, but kinder too.
Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said:
I warmly welcome to this new role of
Maternity Advisor and look forward to working together to improve
maternity care across the country.
Michelle will be a fantastic advocate to ensure women's
experiences and voices are heard and help us continue to shine a
light on and address the inequalities faced by mothers and babies
from ethnic minorities.
Her appointment and the work of the taskforce will be vital to
our drive to ensure that all women experience the best maternity
care before, during and after their pregnancy.
Welsh brings both personal and professional experience to the
role. As a harmed mother from Nottinghamshire, she has lived
through the failures she is now fighting to fix.
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maternity,
Welsh has also spoken to thousands of other women and families
across the country about their experiences and has been a
tireless advocate for making maternity services safer,
particularly for Black, Asian and minority women who face the
greatest inequalities in care.
Welsh was also the first elected member in Nottinghamshire to
call for an independent review into maternity services at
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, in 2020.
Welsh will also sit as a member on the National Maternity and
Neonatal Taskforce - set up to drive change in response to
Baroness Amos' independent investigation into maternity and
neonatal care. Welsh will work closely with the Taskforce on the
response and implementation of the actions from the
investigation, expected in June.
Separately, the Taskforce has today published its Terms of
Reference.
The Taskforce has two core jobs: developing a national action
plan covering the full maternity journey, from pre-pregnancy
through to postnatal and bereavement support, and holding the NHS
to account for delivering real improvements for women, babies and
families. A key focus will be closing the stark inequalities that
mean Black and Asian women are significantly more likely to die
in pregnancy or childbirth than white women.
Families and those with lived experience remain at the heart of
the Taskforce's work. This includes membership of the Expert
Reference Groups announced today, which bring together families,
clinicians, charities and academics to directly inform its
decisions.
This builds on significant action the government has already
taken since July 2024, including investing £149 million in
maternity and neonatal facilities, and expanding mental health
services and baby loss support for families.
