Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Acknowledged
Set out how Government will monitor ICB investment and intervene in maternity services.
Recommendation
More broadly, the Government must ensure that maternity services continue to be a priority within ICB funding allocations. We ask the Government to set out in its response to this Report how it will monitor ICB investment in these services, including the impact of the removal of the ringfence if that decision is not reversed, and how it will intervene if it sees evidence that ICBs are underinvesting in maternity services. (Recommendation, Paragraph 92) 35
Government Response Summary
The government states that maternity services remain a core priority for ICBs and commits to continuing to monitor ICB investment in these services. They highlight existing national priorities and efforts to address pre-pregnancy health factors, but do not provide specific new details on how monitoring or intervention will occur.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Maternity services must continue to be a core priority for ICBs, which is why improving outcomes (including safety) in maternity and neonatal services remains a core priority as set out in the Medium Term Planning Framework. The government will continue to monitor ICB investment in these services. While the ring-fence for maternity funding has been removed, the same level of funding is still being provided as part of wider ICB allocations. You can read more about this in the previous government response to recommendation 9 above. NHS England sets national priorities for ICBs to improve access to timely care for patients, while increasing productivity, living within allocated budgets and driving reform. We are aware that many health behaviours and risk factors for poor maternity and birth outcomes are established prior to pregnancy - notably smoking and obesity. We will be looking closely at how other parts of the health system and government can be brought together to tackle these issues. Equity and equality action plans detail local interventions, for example: • targeted weight management sessions • stop smoking services • enhanced pre-conception health support • equitable access to transport • tailored maternal needs for pregnant asylum seekers and refugees The National smoke-free pregnancy incentive scheme is supporting pregnant smokers by offering financial incentives for those who quit and remain smoke-free throughout their pregnancy and 3 months after birth. There is also considerable opportunity to improve the efficiency of maternity services, with a strong role for technology in supporting this.