Command Paper: The Government's Response to the Health and Social Care Committee Report: Safety of maternity services in England

This is the government's response, published 21 September 2021.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the Committee's report and responds to each of its 15 recommendations, accepting some in full or in part, rejecting one and stating that it is considering others.

• On the recommended £200-350m a year funding increase, the Government says it "is considering this recommendation" and will take the recommendations on funding for staffing "into consideration", alongside an assessment of midwifery and obstetric workforce levels.
• It "accepts" the recommendations on obstetric training posts, safety training targets, and training for Continuity of Carer, while accepting others only "in part", including ringfenced training budgets and a disparity target.
• It rejects the Rapid Redress and Resolution Scheme, stating it "does not intend to put in place" the scheme, and that the scheme "did not address the high and rising cost of clinical negligence cases".
• On litigation reform and compensation, the Government says it will publish a consultation, and "Decisions on next steps will be taken following the consultation".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error