Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
3rd Report - Black Maternal Health
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 895
Published 17 September 2025
Recommendations
2
Deferred
Introduce mandatory, ongoing cultural competency training for all midwives, informed by co-production.
Recommendation
We recommend the Department work with the NHS, the Royal College of Midwives, and the NMC to introduce mandatory, ongoing cultural competency training for all midwives, informed by co-production. A working group should review and update training materials to ensure …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that NHS trust leaders should set clear expectations for tackling racism and outlines work on leader accountability and the establishment of a College of Executive and Clinical Leadership. However, it does not commit to mandatory, ongoing cultural competency training specifically for all midwives or a working group to review training materials.
Department of Health and Social Care
View Details →
6
Deferred
Include targets and strategies in the workforce plan to diversify NHS maternity leadership.
Recommendation
The Government should also ensure the forthcoming workforce plan explicitly includes targets and strategies to diversify NHS leadership, specifically maternity service leaders and educators. This must be 32 accompanied with robust monitoring mechanisms that can be used to track progress …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government details NHS England's collaboration with the RCOG to ensure optimal staffing levels for high-quality maternity care and its work on job planning principles for obstetric consultants. It does not address the recommendation to include targets and strategies for diversifying NHS leadership in the forthcoming workforce plan.
Department of Health and Social Care
View Details →
11
Deferred
Require Government to commit to safe maternity staffing and continuity of carer target.
Recommendation
The Government must give firm commitments in the refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver safe staffing levels for maternity services. Without this, safe and sustainable maternity care will remain out of reach. As part of the workforce plan the …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government highlights increases in the midwifery workforce and reiterates commitment to the continuity of carer model. Regarding firm commitments in the refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, they state they are working through how the plan will articulate changes for different professional groups, including midwives and obstetricians.
Department of Health and Social Care
View Details →
Conclusions (1)
5
Conclusion
Deferred
Addressing the current lack of diverse representation within NHS leadership and midwifery education is one practical action that can be taken to address concerns. When those entrusted with shaping clinical knowledge and practice and leading our healthcare organisations overwhelmingly reflect a single demographic, it limits the breadth of what is …
Government Response Summary
The government provides statistics on increases in the overall midwifery workforce and discusses rising complexities in births and potential digital tools for care. It mentions the 10 Year Workforce Plan but refers to a previous response for details, thereby deflecting from the specific recommendation about strategies for diverse representation in leadership and midwifery education.