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Health and Social Care Committee
16 October 2025
Lead MP
Paulette Hamilton
Birmingham Erdington
Lab
Responding Minister
Not recorded
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 3095
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Paulette Hamilton raised concerns about health and social care committee in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.
Key Requests to Government:
The report calls for mandatory cultural competency and anti-racism training in the NHS, leadership accountability for creating inclusive environments, workforce diversity targets, and specific funding commitments to improve maternal health outcomes.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The report highlights that black mothers are more than twice as likely to die during childbirth compared to white mothers. The figure for 2014 to 2016 was almost five times higher, showing a need for urgent action on cultural competency and anti-racism training in the NHS.
St Ives
Emphasized the importance of workforce planning and encouraged adoption of RCOG's toolkit to improve maternity services quality.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Noted disappointment at the absence of specific mention of black maternal health in the NHS 10-year plan, calling for a target to end disparity.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
Commends Paulette Hamilton for her leadership and agrees that the report’s recommendations are well-known but emphasises the need for a new Labour Government to take action on these issues.
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
Stressed the importance of ringfenced funding for ensuring safe staffing levels in maternity services.
Jen Craft
Lab
Thurrock
Welcomed the report and highlighted the need for cultural change in maternal care.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Asked if the report's findings would be shared with relevant health organisations in other parts of the UK to benefit from the information.
Aylesbury
Called for equal weighting between mental and physical health in improving maternal outcomes.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
Highlighted difficulties in data collection, stressing the need for urgent improvements to ensure better outcomes for black and Asian women.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
Called for wider conversations about healthcare provision for black and ethnic minority individuals, highlighting issues with archaic equipment use.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Welcomes the work of the Select Committee on black health, noting Dorset's NHS eagerness to implement changes for better accessibility and equality.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.