THE MINISTER for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, lead a recent discussion between frontline midwives, medical experts, academics, and regional health representatives to tackle Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) maternal mortality.

The NHS is the safest place in the world to have a baby and giving birth is now safer than it was 10 years ago. Since 2010, despite increases in certain risk factors, outcomes for mothers and babies have improved:

• Stillbirths are down 21%, reaching the 20% fall target two years early
• Perinatal mortality is down 15%
• Maternal mortality is down 14%.

Tragic maternal deaths now occur in fewer than 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. 209 mothers died in the UK from pregnancy-related causes from 2015 to 2017. During this period more than 2.2 million women gave birth in the UK.

Whoever you are and wherever you live, the birth of a child should be a wonderful, momentous time for a mother and her family.

The Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch

Evidence points to a concerning disparity in maternal mortality between Black women and White women. Black British mothers are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or six weeks after childbirth, than white women. Women of mixed ethnicity have three times the risk, and Asian women almost twice the risk. BAME women are also at an increased risk of having a pre-term birth, stillbirth, neonatal death or a baby born with low birth weight.

Tackling

Government is committed to tackling these concerning statistics. That’s why they have set up a new model of community hubs, which bring a range of perinatal and sometimes intrapartum care services together in one setting closer to women’s homes to identify potential problems sooner. They have been opened across the country, with over 100 new hubs open as of December 2019.

This is part of the aim to half stillbirths, maternal mortality, neonatal mortality and serious brain injury by 2025. Recommendations from the landmark National Maternity Review: Better Births are being implemented through Local Maternity Systems – bringing together the NHS, local authorities and other local partners to ensure mother and baby receive seamless care.

Experts

This roundtable will assemble experts to understand exactly what more can be done to ensure every mother and baby receives the best and safest maternity care.

The Minister for Equalities said: “The government takes the issue of maternal mortality very seriously. We have brought the numbers down significantly and want mothers and children of all backgrounds to know we continue to do more. Not just closing the disparity in risk between mothers of different ethnicities, but working together to ultimately end maternal mortality for good.

“Whoever you are and wherever you live, the birth of a child should be a wonderful, momentous time for a mother and her family.

“Today I am meeting academics, health experts, midwives on the ground, and regional health leaders, so we can work together to protect women and their children.”

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