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29
Jun 2021
Examination of higher maternity risk amongst ethnic minorities
The charity Birthrights has launched an inquiry into why women from ethnic minorities are at an increased risk of serious harm or death during pregnancy and childbirth, adding that these women are too often failed by maternity services.
NHS England have said they are working on a new strategy to tackle inequality in neonatal and maternity care services.
Research by the ONS says women from ethnic minorities have poorer pregnancy outcomes and experience of maternity care than white women, and that they tended to access antenatal checks and ultrasound scans, had less screening and were less likely to receive pain relief during labour.
Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, NHS England’s chief midwifery officer, said “The NHS is one of the safest healthcare systems in the world to have a baby and all women who use our maternity services should receive the best care possible – which is why we acted immediately to boost support for pregnant women from ethnic minority backgrounds, when heightened risks first became clear.
“We are working on a new strategy to tackle inequality in maternity and neonatal care and have been fast-tracking our continuity of carer programme for women from ethnic-minority backgrounds, which is proven to significantly improve their overall experience of care.”
Amy Biggs, chief executive of Birthrights, said “UK law demands everyone has equal access to safe, respectful maternity care but we are failing to safeguard black and brown people’s basic rights – to survive childbirth, to be treated with dignity, to have their bodies and choices respected.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382
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