By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
The chair of Nottingham’s maternity review says she is yet to hear from the new Labour Government about its plans to put in place her essential actions and improve services across the country.
Ms Ockenden previously led an inquiry into the services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, and recommended a series of ‘essential actions’ be utilised nationally upon its conclusion in 2022.
That year the Conservative Party’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid endorsed her findings and pledged to act on them quickly.
However the position went on to change hands a number of times, which led to the Government taking its “eye off the ball”, Ms Ockenden said.
Previous holders of the role included Jeremy Hunt in 2018, Matt Hancock from 2018 to 2021, Sajid Javid from 2021 to 2022, Steve Barclay for a first time in 2022, Therese Coffey in 2022, Steve Barclay again from the latter part of 2022 to 2023, and finally Victoria Atkins from 2023 to 2024.
Ms Ockenden says the new Labour Government, and its Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is yet to meet her.
“I’ve not heard from the new Government,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Monday (September 2).
“I’ve not heard from the Secretary of State or his team. During the General Election campaign, they were very well-informed about maternity safety, and I think our then-Shadow Secretary of State for Health said maternity safety kept him awake at night and they promised accelerated progress on Ockenden.
“I’m waiting to hear from them. I’m sure their inbox and their in-tray is absolutely huge, but it would be good to hear from them as to how they’re going to make this a reality.
“At the end of the day, we all have to be born to, therefore maternity safety is something that touches every single person these country.”
Before the General Election Mr Streeting said he would be guided by Ms Ockenden and that he wants to see the Government “move faster at implementing her recommendations”.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are incredibly grateful to Donna Ockenden for her important work in reviewing maternity care and for recommendations already made and we will look very closely at any further findings from her ongoing investigation at Nottingham University Hospitals.
“This Government agrees it is unacceptable too many women are not receiving the maternity care they deserve and we are determined to change that.
“We will train thousands more midwives and ensure trusts failing on maternity care are supported into rapid improvement.”
