Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure that staffing levels in maternity services are sustainable in Leicester East constituency and (b) help support families affected by (i) miscarriage and (ii) stillbirth.

The Government has added £165 million of recurring investment to the annual maternity budget, beginning in 2021, to grow and support the maternity workforce and improve neonatal care, including in Leicester East.

Additionally, the NHS People Plan has been developed to focus on improving the retention of National Health Service staff by prioritising staff health and wellbeing. £45 million has been invested in 2022/23 to support the continuation of 40 mental health hubs across the country, the Professional Nurse Advocates (PNAs) programme, and expanding the NHS Practitioner Health service.

Mental health services around England are being expanded to include new mental health “hubs” for new, expectant or bereaved mothers. The 33 new maternal mental health services will provide psychological therapy, maternity services and reproductive health for women with mental health needs following trauma or loss related to their maternity experience. These will be available across England by March 2024.