Liz Jarvis MP calls on the Secretary of State to announce a National Inquiry into maternity deaths

Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to urgently declare a public inquiry into maternity services after a rise in preventable deaths. She has previously pushed the Government to prioritise improvements to maternity services in a Westminster debate. 

Ms Jarvis raised the case of Eastleigh residents Charlotte and James Bassett, whose baby daughter, Norah, tragically died in April 2019 at Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Norah was given the all-clear by a doctor but quickly became poorly. Despite concerning oxygen saturation results, Norah was not rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit. She died very suddenly that same night. 

Charlotte and James are being supported by the Maternity Safety Alliance, a group of parents whose babies have died in hospitals who are pushing for a reform of maternity services.

Liz Jarvis MP for Eastleigh said:  

“The brave and dedicated activism of Charlotte and James is inspiring, and I was deeply proud to share Norah’s story in Parliament earlier this year. 

“On average a baby is born in England every 56 seconds, and we must ensure that every mother has access to safe and fully resourced maternity care. The UK should be the safest place in the world to have a baby. However, according to the Care Quality Commission’s most recent figures, nearly two thirds of England’s maternity services are not safe enough. 

“We are now past the point that urgent action needs to be taken. We must understand the reasons why failings are occurring, how staff are trained and the environments in which they work, how services are commissioned, and whether systems of accountability and governance are truly succeeding. The Health Secretary must call a national inquiry.”