Black women are four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than their white counterparts. This statistic is a snapshot of the wider health inequalities faced by black and minority ethnic mothers and their children. I’ve signed the Five X More MPs Pledge to draw attention to this overlooked issue and join forces with other MPs in campaigning for the Government to act. 

 

I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and urged him to improve maternal outcomes for black women as well as implement the recommendations on black maternal health in the Human Rights Select Committee report “Black people, racism and human rights” (see here to read the report).

 

I have now received a response from the Minister for Primary Care and Patient Safety, Maria Caulfield MP. Click the link below to read the response in full. 

 

It is welcome the Government is taking this issue seriously, but there is more work to be done. Last month, I called on the Leader of the House to consider a debate in Parliament on this issue. See here to watch my question and his response.

 

I have also written to our local NHS trust to ask what it is doing locally to improve outcomes for black mothers. I will post the response on my website once I receive it.

 

I am also keen to hear from black women in Hackney about how this issue has affected you. I will be holding a virtual roundtable so black Hackney women can feed in their experience. If you like to register your interest in attending this roundtable, please email meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk with your full name and postal address.