Natalie Elphicke MP has welcomed the Government’s response to the Kirkup Inquiry into avoidable baby deaths at East Kent Hospitals. In Parliament, the MP thanked the families involved in the inquiry for their campaign to see maternity services improved in East Kent and across the UK.
Recently, the Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, announced a series of national and local reforms into maternity care, including a new national body for maternity safety led by Dr Bill Kirkup and a Ministerial oversight committee for East Kent to drive further maternity improvements.
Locally, there have already been improvements across the East Kent Hospitals. However, Natalie says there is still work to be done. Health Ministers will continue to work closely with East Kent MPs and the hospital trust to drive through further improvements to maternity services at pace.
Natalie Elphicke MP said:
“The new national maternity safety body is a real step forward. Improvements have been made in East Kent maternity services, yet there is still work to be done. I will continue to work closely with Health Ministers, the families and the hospital trust to ensure work continues to improve the care of mothers and babies in our local hospitals.”
“My heartfelt thanks to all those families who shared their grief and loss. They have fought long and hard to prevent other families being affected by tragedy. They have helped to develop new plans to improve local services – and they have spurred action on a national level to improve standards and safety.”
Health Minister Maria Caulfield MP said:
“I’m determined to see safety standards in maternity and neonatal care improve across the country. While this invaluable report focuses on the situation in East Kent, I want to see its recommendations implemented nationwide.”