Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Disabled Women: Maternity Care

Tuesday 24 February 2026 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Marie Tidball expressed concerns about disabled women not receiving timely confirmation of pregnancy due to systemic issues.
  • The NHS 10-year plan promised a maternity taskforce that has not yet convened, seven months after the promise.
  • The Minister criticized the Conservative government for its handling of NHS services over the past 14 years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marie Tidball Lab Penistone and Stocksbridge
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about the high risk of neonatal mortality, perinatal mortality, and stillbirth faced by disabled women during pregnancy.

Question

I am concerned that disabled women's bodies are often deemed not to count. In the last year, I have met two incredible disabled women: Carly, a Paralympian, and Sarah, an occupational therapist. Neither found out they were pregnant until their second and third trimesters respectively because none of their clinicians considered that they might be pregnant. We are making babies, we are having babies—against the odds; we have a 44% higher likelihood of stillbirth—and we are being brilliant mothers. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss ensuring that inclusive maternity care for disabled women is at the heart of our women's health strategy so that our womanhood is no longer invisible?

Answer from Zubir Ahmed

We are lucky to have my hon. Friend in this place, challenging us to be better—and we can be better. We need to be bolder and take decisive action to close the gap on inequalities to ensure that all women receive safe, personalised and compassionate care. I note that my hon. Friend has previously had meetings with the Minister for maternity, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would be delighted to meet her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm a specific meeting or action plan regarding inclusive maternity care for disabled women.

How: We Are Lucky To Have My Hon. Friend In This Place, Challenging Us To Be Better—And We Can Be Better.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Marie Tidball Lab Penistone and Stocksbridge
NHS
Context

The NHS 10-year plan promised a maternity taskforce to improve maternity services, but there is concern about the lack of progress.

Question

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Seven months ago, the NHS 10-year plan promised a maternity taskforce. May I ask the Minister how many times it has met?

Answer from Zubir Ahmed

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place. It is informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that it has not met yet, but we are establishing it and it will be meeting soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a specific timeline or detailed plan for when the taskforce would meet.

How: It Is Informed By My Right Hon. Friend The Secretary Of State That It Has Not Met Yet, But We Are Establishing It And It Will Be Meeting Soon.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Gregory Stafford Con Farnham and Bordon
NHS
Context

The lack of meetings by the maternity taskforce is raising concerns about the urgency and importance given to improving maternity services.

Question

The fact that the taskforce has not even met, seven months later, tells us everything we need to know about how urgent and important the Government consider this issue. In Leeds, families are losing faith in the failing maternity services. The Secretary of State said that he takes the matter “extremely seriously”, yet Donna Ockenden—who exposed the failings in Nottingham, has the support of families, and has said that she is ready and willing to lead the inquiry—has not been appointed. If the Minister and the Secretary of State take this issue extremely seriously, why have they not appointed a chair yet?

Answer from Zubir Ahmed

I see that the brass neck of the hon. Gentlemen's predecessor has been transplanted to him. He talks about seven months, but what about the last 14 years, through which the Conservatives presided over the decay and decline of our NHS? They failed our patients and the clinicians who serve them. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is in regular contact with maternity families and, like me, he takes the matter extremely seriously. He will report to this House on the outcome of his deliberations on a regular basis.

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific issue of why Donna Ockenden has not been appointed as the chair.

How: I See That The Brass Neck Of The Hon. Gentlemen'S Predecessor Has Been Transplanted To Him.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)