Health Bill: Ministers must show more ambition on maternity safety, say Lib Dems

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government following its decision to vote down amendments to the Health Bill, aimed at transforming safety standards across British maternity services.

The proposed amendments would have placed a legally binding duty on ministers to ensure every maternity unit in the country achieves a “Good” or “Outstanding” rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on safety, and to ensure every woman has 1-1 midwifery with 24/7 consultant presence on every unit. The rejection comes amid growing concern over the state of NHS maternity care, with recent inspectorate reports highlighting widespread systemic failings, severe staffing shortages, and inconsistent care standards across regional trusts.

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

“65% of maternity units are unsafe. More women are suffering severe bleeds. More women are suffering major injuries. More women are dying. How long will we continue to accept the unacceptable for mothers and babies?

“By rejecting these amendments, the Government has turned its back on a vital opportunity to raise standards and rebuild trust. Safe maternity units should be the bare minimum, not an ambition ministers can simply brush aside.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for the 1-1 midwifery, 24/7 consultant cover and the repairs to crumbling wards that we need to make Britain the safest place to have a baby. We won’t let this go.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Following Lib Dem pressure, Ministers did today commit at the dispatch box to establishing a statutory Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner. See here. 

Amendment NC6:

To move the following clause—
“Maternity Safety 
(1)   The Secretary of State must ensure that every NHS maternity unit is rated “good” or “outstanding” by the CQC. 
(2)  The Secretary of State must, within 6 months of the passage of this Act, establish a scheme to support NHS trusts to deliver the requirement under subsection (1), which includes—
(a)    24/7 consultant obstetrician cover on every labour ward,
(b)    one-to-one midwifery care,
(c)    a Director of Midwifery in every maternity service, 
(d)    ringfenced maternity service development funding, and 
(e)    a dedicated neonatal workforce plan.
(3)   Within 12 months of the commencement of the scheme under subsection (2), and every 12 months thereafter, an annual report should be laid before both Houses of Parliament on the effectiveness of the scheme. 
Member’s explanatory statement

This new clause would place a duty on the Secretary of State to create a scheme to ensure that every maternity unit in the country achieves a “good” or “outstanding” rating by the CQC.