To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps he is taking to implement the recommendations from the October 2024 report Enabling Safe Quality Midwifery Services and Care in Northern Ireland.

A broad programme of work is already underway to improve maternity and neonatal services, including implementation of the recommendations arising from Professor Renfrew’s report, Enabling Safe Quality Midwifery Services and Care in Northern Ireland. In addition, this work is also informed by the RQIA review of maternity services, reviews of compliance with NICE guidance, and a detailed gap analysis of relevant reports and strategies. Collectively, this work will be fundamental to improving outcomes for mothers, babies and their families in Northern Ireland.

Following publication of Professor Renfrew’s report, my Department wrote to the five Health and Social Care Trusts outlining the critical priorities identified within the review and the immediate actions required. Trusts have been progressing implementation of the recommendations, with action underway across all priority areas and improvements being delivered both regionally and locally.

This includes action to strengthen governance and accountability arrangements, improve escalation processes and psychological safety, support women requesting care outside of clinical guidance, enhance workforce recruitment and training, and address staffing pressures where possible.

To support sustained improvement and provide strategic oversight of this work, a multi-disciplinary regional Maternal and Newborn Partnership is being established. The Partnership will bring together existing maternity and neonatal structures to lead the development, implementation and oversight of evidence-based, safe, high-quality services. It will also oversee the development of a regional action plan, providing a clear focus for maternity and neonatal improvement over the next three to five years.