Tom Morrison MP Calls for Urgent Action on Maternity Crisis

Tom Morrison MP has joined Liberal Democrat colleagues in signing a letter to the Health Secretary demanding immediate action to address the national maternity crisis, drawing on his own recent experience of becoming a parent earlier this year.

The letter, led by Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP, highlights the alarming state of maternity services across the country. Currently, 65% of maternity units fail to meet basic safety standards, maternal mortality rates are rising rather than falling, and black women are nearly three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.

"Earlier this year, my partner and I welcomed our child into the world," said Tom. "Like so many families, we saw firsthand how stretched our maternity services are. The midwives and doctors were extraordinary, but they're working in a system that's clearly at breaking point."

The letter criticises the government's decision to slash ring-fenced maternity funding by 95% – from £95 million to just £2 million – a move the Royal College of Midwives warned would "rip the heart out of any moves to improve maternity safety."

Tom and his colleagues are calling for the immediate restoration of maternity funding, implementation of outstanding recommendations from previous reviews including the Ockenden Report, action to tackle inadequate staffing levels, and measures to address the stark disparities in maternal outcomes affecting ethnic minority and deprived communities.

"We've had review after review – Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford, East Kent, Ockenden," Tom added. "We know what the problems are. We don't need another review – we need action now. Every woman deserves to feel safe bringing their baby into the world, and our dedicated NHS staff deserve the resources and support to provide that care."

The letter urges the Health Secretary to act without waiting for the findings of yet another investigation, arguing that enough evidence already exists to justify immediate change. You can read the letter below: