Maternal Health Disparities 2023-04-26
2023-04-26
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question is prompted by the recognition of racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly for black, Asian and minority ethnic women. The issue has been highlighted as a significant concern requiring government intervention.
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on racial inequalities in maternity care?
It is this Government who have recognised that maternal disparities do exist for black, Asian and minority ethnic women and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. That is why in February last year we set up the maternity disparities taskforce to tackle those disparities.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific details of discussions with the Secretary of State are not provided.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns have been raised about the higher likelihood of black women dying during pregnancy and childbirth. The Women and Equalities Committee's report highlights a failure by the Government to adequately address these issues.
Does the Minister agree that we owe huge thanks to my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy) for her work as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Black maternal health? Secondly, black women are four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth and 3.5% more likely to miscarry. The Women and Equalities Committee's report highlights that the Government are failing to act. Will the Minister commit today to setting a binding target and providing properly resourced solutions to end this scandal and these disparities?
I am happy to place on record my thanks to the hon. Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy), who does fantastic work in this place. I should point out that the figure is lower than that—it is now 3.5—but it is still too high, and we are doing record amounts of work to try to reduce it. Only last month the NHS published its “Three year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services” with the aim of ending disparities in pregnancy and childbirth, and the maternity disparities taskforce is currently looking into pre-conception care.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to a binding target or provide specifics on resource allocation.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the recognition that black women face a significantly higher risk of death during childbirth compared to other groups. The Women and Equalities Committee has criticised government actions, highlighting issues such as inaccurate data, lack of funding for maternity services, inconsistency in care across regions, underrepresentation of black women, and downplaying racism's role.
Whether black women are 3.5 or four times more likely to die in childbirth, it is a shameful and inexcusable reality that that is the case in our country. The Women and Equalities Committee has been clear about the Government's own failings in this regard, criticising a lack of accurate data, a lack of funding for maternity services, a lack of consistency of care across the country, a lack of representation of black women in the maternity disparities taskforce, and a downplaying of the role of racism in the issue. When will the Government get a grip on this disgraceful injustice, with the urgency that it demands?
It is entirely wrong to suggest that the taskforce does not represent black women, given that Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, its co-chair and one of the most renowned midwives in the world, is a black woman herself. She has been leading and driving forward this work, including work on local maternity and neonatal systems and the publication of equity and equality action plans; I am sure that the hon. Member has read the plan for her own area.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific failings criticised by the Women and Equalities Committee were not addressed.
Incorrect Representation
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
There is concern about significant disparities in maternal health outcomes affecting black women, and a need to understand the underlying causes.
It is very disturbing that there are such serious disparities in maternal health outcomes affecting black women. Can the Minister reassure us that the Government are looking into the causes? Until we know what it is causing the problem, we will not be able to solve it.
My right hon. Friend is exactly right, and that is why the taskforce is focusing on pre-conception care. Many of the disparities have been there for years before a woman becomes pregnant, and we are working with stakeholders to establish how we can improve access to pre-conception care.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific causes were not addressed directly.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
There is evidence suggesting that providing continuity of carer can help improve outcomes for women, especially those from ethnically diverse or socially deprived backgrounds.
As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on baby loss, I have heard evidence suggesting that we can help women in this position by providing continuity of carer, which helps to expose lifestyle choices and experiences such as domestic violence that may affect people from ethnically diverse or social deprived backgrounds. What is the Department doing to expand that continuity of carer for those who need it?
I can reassure my hon. Friend: we are spending £7 million to ensure that 75% of black, Asian and minority ethnic women are being cared for by the same midwife during their pregnancies, because we know that continuity of carer improves outcomes for those women.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the higher likelihood of maternal mortalities among black women, Asian women, and those living in deprived areas. The increase during Tory government has been highlighted as a concern.
My understanding is that the figure for the black maternal mortality gap is actually 3.7, and that the gap is twice as likely to affect Asian women, while women living in deprived areas are two and a half times more likely to die than those in the least deprived areas. Scandalously, even before the pandemic hit, the number of maternal mortalities increased by 12% over the previous six years of Tory government. As the Minister said, the maternity disparities taskforce was supposed to be tackling this. May I ask her how many months elapsed between its last two meetings?
We absolutely recognise that these disparities have existed for decades, and we are the first Government ever to recognise that and to set up a maternity disparities taskforce to tackle the problems. We met on 18 April, and have set about introducing the toolkit that will enable us to look at pre-conception care.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific details of meetings were not fully addressed.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The taskforce did not meet for nine months, then convened a day after a damning report was published. The Minister omitted serious action against maternal disparities from the women's health strategy.
Why has the Government let nine months pass between meetings of the taskforce on maternity services? Why were continuity of carer targets and serious action against maternal disparities omitted from their women's health strategy?
The Government do not need to have a meeting to take action. We are working night and day to drive down these disparities, with £165 million going into funding maternity services overall. There is £95 million to pay for 1,200 more midwives and another 100 consultant obstetricians. I am sure the hon. Lady has read, page to page, the three-year maternity plan—
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Assessment & feedback
Specifically avoided addressing why continuity of carer targets were omitted from their women's health strategy and did not commit to any serious action against maternal disparities mentioned.
The Government Do Not Need To Have A Meeting To Take Action.
Response accuracy