Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to ensure that (a) quality and (b) safety of maternity services are more (i) clearly and (ii) consistently reflected in CQC ratings.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is committed to strengthening its oversight of maternity services and has commissioned an independent developmental review to identify opportunities to improve how quality and safety are assessed and reflected in ratings, ensuring alignment with wider system reforms, including those set out in the 10‑Year Health Plan.

Feedback from the consultation published on the CQC’s website on their sector‑specific assessment frameworks also presents a further opportunity to improve how quality and safety are assessed and more consistently reflected in ratings for maternity services.

Findings from investigations and inquiries, including any recommendations from the Baroness Amos‑led Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services, alongside the CQC’s national inspection programme, from 2022 to 2023, and internal review, will inform the CQC’s longer‑term priorities for assessing and regulating maternity services.

Currently, where the CQC identifies breaches of regulations or concerns about the quality and safety of maternity services, it has a range of regulatory powers and may take action where necessary.