Maternity Services: Safety
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to ensure that (a) quality and (b) safety of maternity services are more (i) clearly and (ii) consistently reflected in CQC ratings.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is committed to strengthening its oversight of maternity services and has commissioned an independent developmental review to identify opportunities to improve how quality and safety are assessed and reflected in ratings, ensuring alignment with wider system reforms, including those set out in the 10‑Year Health Plan.
Feedback from the consultation published on the CQC’s website on their sector‑specific assessment frameworks also presents a further opportunity to improve how quality and safety are assessed and more consistently reflected in ratings for maternity services.
Findings from investigations and inquiries, including any recommendations from the Baroness Amos‑led Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services, alongside the CQC’s national inspection programme, from 2022 to 2023, and internal review, will inform the CQC’s longer‑term priorities for assessing and regulating maternity services.
Currently, where the CQC identifies breaches of regulations or concerns about the quality and safety of maternity services, it has a range of regulatory powers and may take action where necessary.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →