On the 24th March 2025, the campaign received the following response from DHSC:

From the Ministerial Correspondence

and Public Enquiries Unit

39 Victoria Street

London

SW1H 0EU

Thank you for your correspondence of 24 February to Stephen Kinnock about ‘Right to a Good Birth’ campaign. I have been asked to reply. 

The Department appreciates your work advocating for and improving the integration of informed choice and respectful care within maternity services across the UK.

Choice is a key part of maternity care, and personalised care allows women to have choice and control based on ‘what matters’ to them, their needs and preferences. It is crucial that every woman accessing maternity care should be offered a personalised care and support plan, which takes account of their physical health, mental health, social complexities, and choices. 

The Department is supporting NHS England as it delivers its three-year maternity and neonatal plan to develop a culture of safety, and ensure women, babies and families receive safe, personalised and compassionate care. A key element of the plan is to listen and work with women and families with compassion. The Department is funding local systems to involve women and families in the design of services. Initiatives include: 

• Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships listening to the experiences of women and families, and bringing together patients, staff and other stakeholders to plan, review and improve maternity and neonatal care.
• Many neonatal units are implementing a ‘Family-Integrated Care’ model, which promotes a culture of partnership between families and staff. 

But the Department knows there is much more work to do, and is working closely with NHS England, and the wider sector, to identify the right actions and interventions that will deliver the required changes. The Department is clear that the steps forward must include and be centred around women and families, including their experiences.

In addition, the Department has launched the 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the 3 big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, analogue to digital, sickness to prevention. The engagement process has been launched, and as we work to develop and finalise the plan, I would encourage you to please raise these concerns about choice, information and respect within maternity care. Further information is available at the following link change.nhs.uk/en-GB/. 

The campaign’s focus on gathering experiences and promoting improvements in the maternity space is commendable. While the Department is unable to directly participate in sharing the survey on social media, I encourage you to continue raising awareness and gathering support for your cause.

I hope this reply is helpful. 

Correspondence Officer 

Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries

Department of Health and Social Care

Please do not reply to this email. To contact the Department of Health and Social Care, please visit the Contact DHSC section on GOV.UK