Cooper quits over reform of maternity standards

• Yvette Cooper said that women cannot be forced to “comply” with pregnancy-related advice.
• Cooper plans to review national standards for maternity care as part of a maternity taskforce for improving the care of pregnant women.
• In the maternal care system, it is unclear whether Donna Ockenden and Valerie Amos will provide recommendations for changing the maternity system.

Newly appointed health minister Victoria Atkins Yvette Cooper said that women cannot be forced to “comply” with pregnancy-related advice. In a statement published by The Guardian, she said she was unable to comment on the details of the changes, which could be made to the maternity care system, but said the “postcode lottery” must be ended.

Cooper also said that in her view the plans for national standards are being undermined by the maternity care system. In her words, the standards would be determined during the reform of the NHS.

Maternal care reform is now expected to be implemented by a new maternity taskforce. This includes reviewing the “postcode lottery” and addressing the unequal outcomes for black and Asian women. At the same time, the taskforce will look at the standards and the reasons for the scandal.

Cooper said that she had no intention of undermining the work of the maternity commissioner, and her position was that the reform was needed. She also said that she would not tolerate criticism of the culture in which the problems are rooted.

The Independent also reported that the existing National Action Plan on improving maternity care would be halted. Maternal care reform is now being proposed, with a new “postcode lottery” policy to address the issue.

Tags: Europe/Politics/Well-being