Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Rejected
Reduced Maternity Service Development Fund risks widening disparities and compromising critical reforms.
Conclusion
We are concerned by the Government’s decision to cut the Maternity Service Development Fund from £95 million to £2 million. While ICBs still have access to this funding, maternity services must now compete with other local priorities. While performance metrics in the 2025–26 NHS Assessment Framework aim to ensure accountability, they do not guarantee sufficient funding will be directed towards maternity services. Without sustained oversight and dedicated investment, maternity care risks losing momentum, 34 widening disparities, including in Black maternal care, and compromising critical reforms. We are also concerned about how the dissolution of NHS England and its absorption into the Department of Health and Social Care might impact the NHS’s ability to monitor maternity spending and maintain national oversight of progress. (Conclusion, Paragraph 90)
Government Response Summary
The government asserts that maternity funding has not been cut, explaining the ring-fence was removed to provide local ICBs with greater autonomy and flexibility to meet local needs, a move consistent with wider policy. They clarify that NHS England does not commission maternity services, which is an ICB responsibility.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
This government has instructed the NHS to improve maternity services, as part of a drive to improve quality, as a priority in the Medium Term Planning Framework. Maternity funding has not been cut. The same level of funding is being delivered, but the ring-fence has been removed to allow local healthcare system leaders more autonomy to meet the needs of their local population. Maternity, which formed part of the Service Development Funding (SDF) in 2024 to 2025, has been transferred to ICB core allocations for 2025 to 2026 to allow local leaders more flexibility to serve the needs of their local populations. NHS England does not commission or budget for maternity services - this is the responsibility of ICBs. This approach is consistent with our wider intention to give local healthcare leaders - who are best placed to decide how to serve their local community - more flexibility. This type of approach is also normal practice across the NHS - ring-fenced SDF funding is provided to embed a new initiative with future funding then rolled into ICB baselines, which can then progress with the initiative in a way that works best locally.