Tories abandon bid to stop Black mums dying in childbirth despite shocking figures
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The Maternity Disparities Taskforce was supposed to meet every two months to lead efforts on reducing the number of deaths among women from ethic minority communities and poorer areas, but it has not met since last July
A taskforce to reduce the number of black mothers dying during childbirth has not met for nine months.
Tory ministers promised the group would gather every two months to tackle disparities in maternity care for women from ethnic minority communities and those living in deprived areas.
But despite stark figures showing how they are much more likely to suffer miscarriages or die during childbirth it has not met since July.
The overall maternal mortality rate rose by 12 per cent between 2013 and 2019.
Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.
For British Asian women the difference is 1.8 times.
The taskforce was set up in February 2022 to improve maternity care for women and babies.
The government said it would “meet every two months to maintain and track progress”.
But Maria Caulfield, the Minister for Women, has admitted the group she co-chairs with the Chief Midwifery Officer, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Ben, has not met since its third meeting on July 18, 2022.
In a written answer to a Parliamentary Question, she confirmed that a date for the next taskforce meeting had not been confirmed.
Black women are 40 per cent more likely to experience a miscarriage than white women, and deprived areas can have higher rates of stillbirths.
Announcing the taskforce last year, Ms Caulfield said: “For too long disparities have persisted which mean women living in deprived areas or from ethnic monitory backgrounds are less likely to get the care they need, and worse, lose their child.
“We must do better to understand and address the causes of this.
“The Maternity Disparities Taskforce will help level up maternity care across the country, bringing together a wide range of experts to deliver real and ambitious change so we can improve care for all women, and I will be monitoring progress closely.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The Maternal Disparities Taskforce will convene soon to continue to drive progress in improving access to preconception and maternity care for all mothers and babies.”
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