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PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Health and Social Care - 26 January 2026 (Commons/Written Corrections)

Debate Detail

Contributions from Dr Caroline Johnson, are highlighted with a yellow border.
The following extracts are from Health and Social Care questions on 13 January 2026.
Lab/Co-op
Paul Waugh
Rochdale
What steps his Department is taking to improve maternity care.
Lab
Laura Kyrke-Smith
Aylesbury
What steps his Department is taking to improve maternity and neonatal care.
Wes Streeting
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
… We have invested more than £131 million to improve neonatal care facilities, brought in a new maternity care bundle, implemented a programme to reduce the two leading causes of avoidable brain injury during labour, and increased maternal mental health services. There is so much more to do, however, to guarantee safety now and into the future, and also to ensure truth, justice and accountability for past failures.

[Official Report, 13 January 2026; Vol. 778, c. 734.]

Written correction submitted by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the right hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting):
Wes Streeting
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
… We have invested more than £131 million to improve maternity and neonatal care facilities, brought in a new maternity care bundle, we are implementing a programme to reduce the two leading causes of avoidable brain injury during labour, and we have increased maternal mental health services. There is so much more to do, however, to guarantee safety now and into the future, and also to ensure truth, justice and accountability for past failures.
Con
Dr Caroline Johnson
Sleaford and North Hykeham
The maternity and neonatal plan is due in the spring, nearly two years after the Secretary of State took office. The maternity review has been delayed. There are no signs of the 1,000 additional midwives the Secretary of State said he would train. Gynaecology waiting lists are rising, with the number waiting for admission 6% higher than it was a year ago. The Secretary of State has an opportunity to save many lives, and I know that he wants to use all the opportunities available to him. May I ask him to concentrate on making more improvements in maternity care?
Wes Streeting
Let me just point out that in the 18 months for which I have had the privilege of holding this post, we have invested more than £131 million in 122 infrastructure projects across 49 NHS trusts to improve the safety of neonatal care facilities. We have implemented a new programme to reduce the two leading causes of avoidable brain injury during labour…

[Official Report, 13 January 2026; Vol. 778, c. 737.]

Written correction submitted by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care:
Wes Streeting
Let me just point out that in the 18 months for which I have had the privilege of holding this post, we have invested more than £131 million in 122 infrastructure projects across 49 NHS trusts to improve the safety of maternity and neonatal care facilities. We are implementing a new programme to reduce the two leading causes of avoidable brain injury during labour…

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.