Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Maternal Health: Ethnic Minority Women

Wednesday 22 September 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • A new office for health improvement and disparities will be launched on 1 October to address disparities in health outcomes.
  • The Government congratulated the team at the Highfield Centre and are committed to ensuring access to necessary support, including additional 24,000 women accessing specialist perinatal mental health care by 2023-24.
  • The Government will arrange a meeting with the relevant Minister before Christmas to discuss support for post-natal depression among women from ethnic minorities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
NHS
Context

The question arose from a concern about disparities in maternal mortality rates among ethnic minorities. It references a £500,000 fund announced by the then patient safety Minister for a maternity leadership programme.

Question

What steps is the Government taking to improve maternal health outcomes for ethnic minority women? A new office for health improvement and disparities will be launched on 1 October, which aims to address disparities in health outcomes. The questioner highlights a £500,000 fund for a maternity leadership programme.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

A new office for health improvement and disparities will be launched on 1 October, which aims to address disparities in health outcomes. NHS England recently published its equity and equality guidance, asking all local maternity systems to produce action plans to improve equity in maternal outcomes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about steps taken is not fully addressed with concrete actions or figures.

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Q2 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
NHS
Context

The question arose from a visit to the Highfield Centre in Keighley, which recently launched a digital health hub aimed at providing maternal health and wellbeing support.

Question

Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating her team at the Highfield Centre in Keighley? Will she explain what the Government are doing to support places such as the Highfield Centre in Keighley to deliver such services?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The team at the Highfield Centre is congratulated. The Government are committed to ensuring that women across the country can access necessary support, including additional 24,000 women accessing specialist perinatal mental health care by 2023-24.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about supporting digital health hubs is not fully addressed with concrete actions or figures.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Women & Equalities
Context

Recent statistics show that women in black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are 32% less likely to take up help for post-natal depression.

Question

After recent statistics showing a significant disparity in taking up help for post-natal depression among women from ethnic minorities, what discussions has the Minister had with her counterparts in the devolved institutions?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Government are committed to addressing disparities and will arrange a meeting with the relevant Minister before Christmas to discuss support for post-natal depression among women from ethnic minorities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about discussions held is not fully addressed with concrete actions or figures.

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Q4 Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North
Women & Equalities
Context

The Five X More campaign highlights disparities in maternal outcomes for women from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Question

What progress has been made by the Government towards setting targets to drive down disparities highlighted by the Five X More campaign?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Minister for Women and Equalities is consulting with senior midwives and clinicians from ethnic minorities to discuss how to improve the experience for all, including discussing targets as part of the ongoing process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about setting targets is not fully addressed with concrete actions or figures.

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