The government’s newly announced 10-year plan for the NHS has drawn criticism from campaigners who say it neglects key issues around maternity safety and bereavement care. While the plan sets out bold ambitions to modernise health services, introduce digital innovations, and shift the focus to prevention, charities warn that it leaves gaps in areas that could save babies’ lives and support grieving families.
A major element of the plan is the creation of neighbourhood health centres that will provide diagnostics, mental health support, rehabilitation, and other services closer to where people live. The government hopes these centres will ease hospital pressures and make it easier for people to access care. Patients are expected to benefit from greater use of technology, with tools such as the NHS App giving them more control over managing appointments, prescriptions, and care plans.
But Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, has voiced serious concerns about the plan’s failure to address maternity care. Sands responded to the announcement by saying: “Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, responds to this morning’s announcement on the NHS 10 Year Plan by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting.
Dr Clea Harmer, chief executive, Sands said: ‘It is disappointing that the NHS 10 Year Plan announced today does not include any detail on how the Government intends to improve maternity care and save babies’ lives.
‘While there has been a separate recent announcement on maternity care by the Secretary of State, this is not enough. Maternity care is a vital part of the NHS and must be included in the 10 Year Plan.
‘Two key areas haven’t been addressed. Firstly, we need the Government to set new targets to reduce stillbirth, neonatal death and preterm birth in England – and align these new maternity ambitions within the 10 Year Plan.
‘Secondly, there is no acknowledgement in the Plan of the action that needs to be taken to make sure that if a baby dies, their parents receive high-quality compassionate bereavement care. At least 700 bereaved parents responded to 10 Year Plan consultation calling for this to happen, their voices must be heard.
‘One way to ensure this happens is to mandate the standards in the National Bereavement Care Pathway for Pregnancy and Baby Loss, and NHS Trusts will also need to have the resources to implement the standards.’”
Campaigners argue that these omissions represent a missed opportunity. They stress that maternity care and bereavement support must be central to any major NHS reform if the government is to deliver on its promises of a modern, inclusive health service that meets the needs of all families.
