Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Rejected
The main solutions which have been put forward by the Government and NHS are necessary...
Conclusion
The main solutions which have been put forward by the Government and NHS are necessary but insufficient to tackle the problem of the disparity in maternal 26 Black maternal health deaths. A target for eliminating the disparity between Black and other minority ethnic women and White women, and the related disparity between those living in the most and least deprived areas, is needed. This will focus minds, help to embed a strategy, and keep the issue firmly on the political and health agenda. Focus on a single number alone is a crude and unhelpful measure. There should be a cross- government target and strategy, led by the Department of Health and Social Care, for eliminating maternal health disparities. The Maternity Disparities Taskforce should be charged with consulting on this strategy within its membership and more widely, and for proposing and developing metrics by which this target can be achieved and measured. (Paragraph 50) Research and data
Government Response Summary
The Government does not believe a target and strategy is the best approach towards progress and will instead measure progress against equity aims through metrics described in the Equity and Equality Guidance for Local Maternity Systems.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
28. Equity means that all mothers and babies will achieve health outcomes that are as good as the groups with the best health outcomes. This is important because good health in pregnancy significantly influences a baby’s development in the womb which, in turn, influences long-term health and educational outcomes7. By giving every child the best start in life, this helps them fulfil their health, wellbeing and socioeconomic potential. 29. The causes behind maternal health disparities are complex and embedded. Setting a concrete target for a specific health disparity does not necessarily focus resource and attention through the best mechanisms. We understand the significant and sustained action required—both within the healthcare system and across Government and wider society—but we do not believe a target and strategy is the best approach towards progress. 30. NHS England are using the Core20PLUS5 as a metric. NHS England have taken the approach of first setting metrics which have sufficient sensitivity (statistical power) to track changes in clinical outcomes for the groups most at risk, and second—through the equity and equality guidance—to identify local priorities, design evidence-based interventions to address those priorities and promote an approach of continuous quality improvement. 31. For this reason, we will measure progress against our equity aims for mothers and babies through metrics described in the Equity and Equality Guidance for Local Maternity Systems.