1 week Ago By [email protected] (Lewis Clarke)
Bath MP has blasted “abysmal” disparities in maternity death rates, highlighting that Black women are four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. She’s now calling on the government to push for safer, fairer care across the NHS. Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, raised the issue in the House of Commons on Wednesday, March 19, during Women and Equalities Oral Questions.
She called on equalities minister Seema Malhotra to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to address what she described as “enormous disparities” in maternity care affecting ethnic minority women. Mortality rates remain disproportionately high, with Asian women twice as likely as white women to die in maternity services. Wera pointed to the figures as evidence of systemic failings that need urgent government attention.
Her comments followed recent praise for (RUH), which was commended for its maternity care by the . Inspectors highlighted how RUH had successfully engaged with ethnic minority communities to improve local services. Seema Malhotra acknowledged the serious disparities in maternal health, infant mortality and mental health.
She said she is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to bring about meaningful improvements. Wera said: “Everyone should feel confident that they will get the best care possible when they enter a maternity unit. But devastatingly, this is just not the case.
“These figures are simply abysmal – Black women are four times more likely to die in maternity services than white women. “This has to change. The government must urgently work to address these disparities and I will keep holding them accountable until we secure safer maternity care for everyone.
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