Ministers refuse to set target for ending maternal deaths disparity

The government has rejected calls to set a target and strategy to end ‘appalling’ disparities in maternal deaths.

In response to a Commons women and equalities committee report, published on Friday, ministers said a “concrete target does not necessarily focus resource and attention through the best mechanisms”.

The response added: “We do not believe a target and strategy is the best approach towards progress.”

The government said disparities will be monitored through local maternity and neonatal systems, which are partnerships comprising commissioners, providers and local authorities.

A recommendation to increase the annual budget for maternity services to up to £350m per year, backed by the now chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and maternity investigator Donna Ockenden, was also rejected.

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Source: HSJ, 3 July 2023