UK Government discuss maternal mortality inequalities with midwives
on 03 September 2020
The UK Equalities Minister is leading discussions to tackle black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) maternal mortality rates in the country.
The Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, will be leading discussions with midwives, medical experts, academics and regional health representatives to tackle BAME maternal mortality in the UK by discussing what more could be done to ensure the safety of all women and their babies.
According to statistics, maternal mortality now occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 pregnancies, but the disparity between black and white women has widened.
Evidence also shows that black British mothers are five times more likely to die during childbirth.
The UK Government has announced its commitment to tackle these statistics by creating community hubs across the country, bringing a range of perinatal and intrapartum care services together in one setting closer to women’s homes to help identify potential problems sooner.
The hubs and discussions are part of the government’s aim to half stillbirths, maternal mortality, neonatal mortality and serious brain injury by 2025.
Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, 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.”
The roundtable aims to discuss and understand what more can be done to ensure every mother and baby receive high quality and safe maternity care.
Overall, in the NHS since 2010 stillbirths are down 21%, perinatal mortality has declined by 15% and maternal mortality declined by 14%.
More information about the discussions can be found here.