When I was asked to join the Health Equity Expert Reference Group for the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce it felt like a valuable opportunity to make sure the perspectives of Black mothers and community-led organisations into conversations about the future of maternity care.
It feels important to have a seat at the table, particularly at a time when there is so much scrutiny of maternity and neonatal services and an urgent need for change. It has also been a privilege to hear from people including Baroness Amos, Donna Ockenden and Yvette Cooper, and to be surrounded by colleagues from across the system including many from the VCSE sector too, which is encouraging.
One of the most important things for me has been seeing bereaved families’ voices being elevated. Their experiences must be heard, taken seriously and translated into meaningful action. We cannot talk about improving maternity and neonatal care without listening to the people and families who have experienced its failures.
But, alongside the hope and the importance of these conversations, I still feel we are a long way from seeing the action that is needed.
At Black Mothers Matter, we see every day how much difference community-led support can make. We provide a space where Black mothers and birthing people can connect, feel understood, access support and navigate systems that do not always work for them. We are part of the scaffolding around maternity services, helping to ensure that people, particularly those who are most vulnerable or at risk of harm, do not fall through the gaps.
I hope the value of the VCSE sector is recognised not simply as an additional resource, but as an essential part of the wider system. We are often already doing the work that the system is trying to achieve, and there is so much to learn from what is working well.
What can be learned from our approaches? What is already working that could be adopted, adapted and spread more widely? We need to move beyond repeatedly identifying problems towards learning from solutions and investing in what works.
There is also a real risk of losing momentum. With three Health Secretaries in the past year, I hope this work retains the political commitment and long-term focus it needs. Maternity and neonatal care has many challenges to address, but I am particularly keen that racial disparities remain a priority rather than becoming lost among the many competing demands for change.
We know that racialised health inequalities are not inevitable. Change is possible, but it requires sustained commitment, accountability and a willingness to listen to communities and act on what they tell us.
Having a seat at the table matters. What matters even more is what happens next.
