Yvette Cooper Vows to Overhaul NHS Maternity Care Amid 'Second-Class Patient' Accusations

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has accused the National Health Service (NHS) of treating women and babies as ‘second-class patients,’ vowing to implement new maternity standards and enhance support for new parents and infants. Cooper stated that while the NHS is meant to care for individuals ‘from the cradle to the grave,’ the ‘cradle has been forgotten’ in recent years.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Cooper outlined her commitment to improving maternity care and support for new parents and babies as a top priority. She pledged to appoint an independent maternity commissioner and to reintroduce Sure Start-style health services into up to 1,000 family hubs over the next two years. These services aim to provide greater support for infant feeding, maternal mental health, and bonding, alongside ensuring access to midwives and health visitors.

Cooper expressed frustration, stating, ‘I am sick and tired of women and babies being treated as second-class patients and I will not stop until every mother is given the care she deserves.’ Her remarks follow numerous reviews into maternity scandals where inadequate care has led to preventable deaths or serious injuries to women and babies.

New Maternity Standards and Commissioner

Cooper announced plans for a maternity task force to reintroduce national maternity standards later this year, which will encompass care for baby loss and post-pregnancy recovery. The appointment of an independent maternity and neonatal commissioner is also part of this initiative. She acknowledged the dedication of many NHS maternity staff but highlighted instances where serious issues were not taken seriously or were overlooked by the wider health service.

Restoring Early Years Support

The health secretary also emphasized a broader focus on the earliest years of children's lives. Sure Start, originally launched in 1998, integrated early education, childcare, health, and family support. Its scope was significantly reduced after 2010 due to funding cuts. Cooper noted that while family hubs are being rebuilt, essential health support services are often missing. She committed to integrating these Sure Start health services back into every family center, aiming to reach 1,000 hubs within two years. This will include support for infant health, parental mental health, and feeding and bonding.

Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls

In addition to maternity and early years care, Cooper announced nearly £50 million for specialized referral services through GPs for victims of domestic abuse. She intends to adopt a public health approach to violence against women and girls, collaborating with survivors, charities, local government, and the NHS. This initiative aims to treat such violence as a public health issue, emphasizing a collective responsibility to ensure freedom from fear.

This announcement follows Cooper's earlier remarks about domestic and sexual violence reaching ‘epidemic’ levels. Official figures indicate that millions in Britain are affected by sexual and domestic violence, with women disproportionately impacted. The government's strategy aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, though sexual violence remains significantly under-reported.