On Thursday, Stafford MP Theo Clarke led the first ever debate on Birth Trauma in the history of the UK Parliament.
Watched by many campaigners and charities, Ms Clarke made a powerful speech that called on the Government to:
- Add Birth Trauma to the Women’s Health Strategy in a meaningful way, not just one line.
- Recruit more midwives to ensure safe levels of staffing in maternity care.
- Perinatal mental health services to be available across the UK, to end the postcode lottery.
- Appropriate and mandatory training for midwives - focus to be equally concerned with mental and physical health.
- Post natal 6 week check with GP for all mothers. This must include separate questions for mother’s physical and mental health, to baby.
- Continuity of care: better communication between secondary and primary health care including explicit pathways for women in need of additional support.
- Provide nationally post birth services, such as Birth Reflections, to give mothers safe space to speak about their experiences in childbirth.
- Rollout OASI (obstetric and anal sphincter injury) care bundle to all hospital trusts to reduce risk of injuries in childbirth.
- Provide support for partners/fathers.
- Better education for women on birth choices and risks to ensure informed consent.
You can watch this important speech here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001s61r/house-of-commons-birth-trauma-debate?page=1
Links to media that have covered this debate can also be found below:
Huffington Post: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/MVMBCQn9wCkAD3AGuPDVSj?domain=huffing…;
Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12649557/MP-Theo-Clarke-tears-…
The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/theo-clarke-mp-intervie…;
