This open letter was originally addressed to the former Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP. We are re-directing it to the new Health Secretary, Matt Hancock MP.
For more information on our #ALLMothers campaign, please read our blog written by Catherine Pellegrino, who is heading up our campaign to suspend NHS charging for maternity care. To receive regular updates on #ALLMothers and future events and actions, please subscribe to our e-bulletin by filling in the subscription fields in the website footer or by emailing info@maternityaction.org.uk.
Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP
Secretary of State for Health
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS
Dear Secretary of State
Re: Impact of charging for NHS maternity care on vulnerable migrant women.
We write to express our concern about the impact of charging for NHS maternity care on vulnerable migrant women.
Pregnant women who are chargeable for NHS maternity care include some of the most vulnerable women living in the UK. Research by Maternity Action and other agencies including Doctors of the World, already shows that charging for maternity care reduces the likelihood of vulnerable migrant women receiving essential maternity care. Maternity Action reviewed 55 cases of women affected by charging and found that those affected included destitute refused asylum seekers, women brought to the UK by abusive partners or traffickers, and undocumented migrant women who are not entitled to mainstream housing and benefits, but who are in the process of regularising their immigration status. Several women had experienced domestic violence, which is more prevalent amongst vulnerable migrants and tends to increase during pregnancy. Many had been in the UK for several years.
Vulnerable pregnant migrant women are at particular risk of poor maternal health outcomes, including maternal deaths, and premature birth. Many, if not all of these women, could be described as having ‘high risk pregnancies’ due to the combination of medical and social factors. NICE guidance recommends additional care, including early booking, more frequent antenatal appointments and continuity of care with a particular midwife.
As Secretary of State, you have expressed your ambition for the NHS to be one of the safest places in the world to give birth. In the light of the evidence that already exists about the association between vulnerable women facing complex social problems, and maternal mortality and morbidity, we would urge you to consider the consequences of charging in relation to the very issues you have highlighted – rates of stillbirth, maternal and neonatal deaths and birth-related brain injuries in babies.
New requirements to produce ID before receiving care are an additional barrier to access for these pregnant women. Many marginalised women, including British nationals, do not have suitable ID such as a passport or driving licence, or even utility bills. They may consequently fear that they will be charged.
Charges for maternity care start at £4,000 and rise to tens of thousands for more complex care. Where bills are unpaid for more than two months, the NHS Trust notifies the Home Office and this may result in the refusal of current and future immigration applications. Existing research confirms that women are deterred from seeking essential care both by bills which they know they cannot afford to pay and by fears of being reported to the Home Office on account of an unpaid NHS debt.
Charging also impacts directly on the health and wellbeing of vulnerable migrant women. Maternity Action’s research found that women were experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety as a result of bills they could not pay and fears that their immigration applications would be refused as a result of debt to the NHS. Midwives contributing to the research reported that this was of such concern that it had been raised in departmental meetings. Stress and anxiety are known to have adverse effects on fetal development and pregnancy outcomes.
The safeguards to ensure access to maternity care for vulnerable migrant women, which were put in place after charging for NHS secondary care was introduced, are not working. While maternity care must never be refused or delayed on account of inability to pay in advance, the rules governing charging are sufficient in themselves to deter women from accessing care. Entering into an affordable repayment plan would prevent debts being reported to the Home Office. However Maternity Action’s research found that repayment plans were often set at unrealistically high levels for women on very low incomes.
The latest round of regulations and local pilots foreshadow more aggressive efforts to identify and invoice those subject to charging. We are extremely concerned at the impact these will have on women who are already being deterred from seeking essential maternity care and on their babies. Charging vulnerable migrant women will not bring further income to the NHS, as these women are manifestly unable to pay. A more likely result is that there will be adverse outcomes, or that women and their babies will require more complex care as a result of conditions which could have been avoided or managed in regular antenatal appointments. In such cases, the cost to the NHS increases.
These changes have proceeded without any research into the impact on the health of pregnant women, new mothers and their babies. While the review announced in November is very welcome, it is limited in scope and does not address this fundamental gap in research.
We ask that charging for NHS maternity care is suspended while these impacts are independently researched and appropriate measures to ensure access are introduced.
Yours sincerely,
Gill Walton Chief Executive – The Royal College Midwives
Professor Lesley Regan President – Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Alice Hood and Nicola Smith Joint Heads of Equality and Strategy, TUC
Diana Holland Assistant General Secretary – Unite
Heather Wakefield Head of Local Government, Police and Justice – UNISON
Ronnie Draper General Secretary – BFAWU
Rosalind Bragg Director – Maternity Action
Esther Adedokun, Healthcare assistant, Ruth Adekoya, Sophie Agrotis, Young Refugees and Migrants Practitioner, The Children’s Society, Juliet Albert, Specialist FGM Midwife, Caroline Alexander, Doula, Najuma Ali, Bi-lingual Maternity Mentor, Manor Gardens Centre, Parveen Ali, Lecturer, University of Sheffield, Obi Amadi, Lead Professional Officer, Unite the union, Sarah Andersen, GP, Stefania Andrian, Midwife, Julia Ankenbrand, Lucy Aphramor, Dietitian, Afsana Aramesh, Outreach Adviser, Project 17, Yael Arbell, Geographer, The University of Leeds, Louise Armstrong, Midwifery Lecturer, Sophie Atkinson, Student Midwife, Mo Attoh, Housing Officer, Feryal Awan, Research and Advocacy Manager, Medact, Clare Azzougarh, Teacher, Loraine Bacchus, Associate Professor of Social Science, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Helen Backhouse, Teacher, HALS, Winnie Baffoe, Coordinator, Mummies Republic, Karemata Bah, Midwife/nurse, Ann Bailey, Retired, Elizabeth Bailey, Public Health, Evelyn Baloro, Clare Bambra, Professor of Public Health, Newcastle University, Martin Banjo, Head of Transformation, BT, Rachel Barlow, Audit Midwife, Amy Barnes, Lecturer, University of Sheffield, Anisa Barrett, Admin Assistant, Pregnancy and Parents Centre, Michael Bates, Head of Services, Birmingham Community Law Centre, Ellen Battye, Medical Student, Martine Bayliss, Midwife, Sue Beckett, Membership Officer, 4in10 London child poverty network, Beverley Lawrence Beech, Birth Activist, Miriam Beeks, GP, Monique Bell, Administrator, Susanne Bell, Production Coordinator, BBC, Joanna Bellamy, Named Midwife for Safeguarding, Natalie Belson, Healthcare Assistant, Denise Bennett, PhD Student, University of Chester, Sarah Bennett, Lead Midwife, Marge Berer, Susan Bewley, Professor of Women’s Health, King’s College London, Agnes Bezzina, Teaching Fellow, University of Bristol, Kaur Bharj, Professional Advisor, The Royal College Midwives, Aayesha Bhattay, Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, Rachael Bickley, Antenatal practitioner, Rachael Bickley, Antenatal Teacher, Gemma Black, Rebecca Blaylock, MPH, Imperial College London, Ruth Blayney, Family Group Conference Facilitator, Birmingham City Council, W Boddeke, GP, Gill Boden, University lecturer, Maria Bofill, Delyth Bolt, Rob Bolton, Claire Bonavero, Midwife, Toby Bonvoisin, Medical student, Maria Booker, Programmes Director, Birthrights, Sarah Booker, Health Visitor, Ros Bourne, Administrator, West Devon Perinatal Mental Health Team, Cornelia Bower, Volunteer Advocate, Haringey Migrant Support Centre, Rachel Bower, Leverhulme Research Fellow, University of Leeds, Kate Bowgett, Director of Advocacy, Groundswell, Caroline Boxall, Midwife, Katherine Bradbury, Family Nurse, Rebecca Brady, Midwife, Michael Bramley, Catherine Brawn, Midwifery Ward Manager, J Breadmore, Midwife, Joeli Brearley, CEO, Pregnant Then Screwed, Zamira Brice, Laura Bridle, Perinatal mental health midwife, Abigail Briggs, Labour Ward Co-ordinator, Abigail Briggs, Senior Midwife, Rebecca Brione, Birthrights, Rebecca Brione, Erica Brooks, Alannah Brown, Social work student, Alison Brown, Midwife, Jane Brown, Student Midwife, Julia Brown, Doula, Kieran Brown, General Practitioner, Linda Brown, PA, Private sector, Sophie Brown, Editorial Director, Mother, Stewart Brown, Homemaker, Charlotte Bryson, GP, Lucy Bunt, Project Manager, Lincoln’s Inn, Helen Burn, Doctor, Francesca Burns, Junior Doctor, Jabeer Butt, Acting Chief Executive, Race Equality Foundation, Sue Byrne, Midwife, Jan Cambridge, independent researcher, Sam Campling, Student, Lib Dem, Jacqueline Capitani, Core Services Manager, Coventry Refugee & Migrant Centre, Frances Carlisle, Mick Carpenter, Emeritus Professor, University of Warwick, Ashwell Carter, Student Midwife, Jenny Carter, Midwife, Lynne Carter, Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellow, Lucia Castoldi, Accountant, Helen Cattle, Unison Rep, Health, Rupa Chilvers, Director, Tangerine Bee, Monica Christie, Nurse, Elizabeth Christmas, Ashlee Christoffersen, Rosalyn Claase, Trustee, Pregnancy and Parents Centre (Edinburgh), Sally Clare, Specialist nurse domestic violence, Andrea Clark, Stephanie Clark, Retired, Jo Clarke, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Kate Scott-Clarke, Solicitor, Louise Clarke, GP & Clinical Board Member Bradford District CCG, Corinne Clarkson, Specialist Midwife, Cynthia Clarkson, Retired Researcher, Charlotte Clayton, Clinical Academic Doctoral Midwife, Clare Clements, Rose Coates, Research Fellow, Child and Maternal Health, City, University of London, Christie Coho, Psychological Therapist, Ross Collard, Memory Support worker, Alzhimers society, Ross Collard, Wellbeing Coordinator, Touchstone, Lauren Collins,Researcher, University of Nottingham, Marina Comandulli, Researcher, Global Witness, Anne Connolly, GP, Anne Connolly, GP and Chair, Mary Conway, Nurse-Midwife, Judith Cook, Trustee, Maternity Action, Dee Coombes, Retired, Sue Copper, Matthew Court, Solicitor, GT Stewart Solicitors, Rosie Cox, Midwife, Kirstie Coxon, Associate Professor (Midwifery), Melissa Coyne, Midwifery Lecturer, Helen Crafter, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Susan Crane, Hon Lecturer, Athene Crouch, N/a, Susan Cueva, trade union officer, UNISON, Sarah Cullen, Student Nurse, Andrew Cummings, GP Registrar, Gary Cummins, Housing delivery manager, Lewisham council, Alan Cunningham, Retired, Sarah Curtis, Young Adults Worker, Carriers of Hope, Helen Dagley, Public Relations Director, JustGiving, Naomi Dannenberg, Mental health support worker, PANDAS Foundation, Jessica Datta, Retired, Sara DavIdson, Sarah Davies, Senior Lecturer, University of Salford, Maryon-Davis, Honorary Professor of Public Health, King’s College London, Jill Day, Retired, Tiffany Day, Outreach Manager, St Mungo’s, Sue Deakin, Alice Deasy, GP trainee, Demblans Dechans, Teacher, Harris Federation, Roghieh Dehghan, GP, Naomi Delap, Director, Birth Companions, Jill Demilew, Consultant Midwife Public Health, Emily Denness, Midwifery specialist, Denny Denny, Activist, Homeless Period Liverpool, Andrea Detmer, Phd researcher, UCL, Sangeeta Dhami, GP, Claudia Patricia Soares Dias, Esperanza Diaz, Associate Professor, University of Bergen, Liliana Diaz, Maternity Mentor, Manor Gardens Centre, Gemma Dickens, Marketing Co-ordinator, Zazzle, Mandy Dickens, Student midwife, Donna Dickenson, Emeritus professor of medical ethics, University of London, Katie Dickerson, Daisy Dinwoodie, Antenatal educator, Sandra Dixon, Public Health Researcher, Emily Dobell, Public Health Registrar, Naughton-Doe, General Practitioner, Kevin Donovan, Retired, Claire Douglas, Midwife, Felicity Dowling, National Secretary Left Unity, Left Unity, Helena Dowling, Homemaker, Laura Drake, Eileen D’souza, Student, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Elizabeth Duff, Member, Maternity Transformation Stakeholder Council, Elizabeth Duff, Julie Mcnevin-Duff, Midwife, Alice Duffy, Lawyer, Matheson, B.E., Retired, Jenny Earle, Programme Director, Dominique Edell, IDVA, Benjamin Eder, Foundation Doctor, Medact Refugee Solidarity Group, E Edwards, Charity Worker, Nadine Edwards, Maternity care researcher, Nicholas Edwards, Director, Nick Edwards Consulting Ltd, Taylor-Edwards, Midwife, Jeanne Elven, Iris Engler, Teacher, School, B English, Public Health Physician, Jade Entwistle, Student Midwife, Sarah Entwistle, Community Nurse Specialist in Refugee Health, Freia Erbe, Doula, Sally Etheridge, Infant Feeding specialist for community peer support, Leicester Mammas, Amelia Evans, Midwife, Jeff Evans, Emeritus Reader, Middlesex University, Rachel Evans, Student midwife, Isabelle F, Maggie Falshaw, Practice manager (retired), Valerie Farnsworth, Emma Feasey, Richard Fenna, Anna Fisher, JP Fisher, GP and Senior Clinical University Teacher, Jess Fitch, FitzRoy, Founder, Parental Pay Equality, Stephen Flanagan, Nurse, Yen Flynn, Midwife, Julia Fortier, Executive Director, DiversityRx – Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care, Emma Framarin, Caseloading Midwife Junior sister, Giada Franc, Nursery Practitioner, Kay Francis, HIV Specialist Midwife, Magali Francois, Jean Fraser, Retired,N/A, Viv Fraser, Retired Lecturer, NA, Beth Frieden, Volunteer, Unity Centre Glasgow, Shuna Frood, Jane Fry, Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University, Christine Furber, Senior Midwifery Lecturer, Samiya Gabas, Belinda Gammon, Business Development Manager, North Wales Regional Equality Network, Rebecca Garcia, Lecturer (Msc pre-registration nursing),The University of Bedfordshire, Sandra Garcia, Voluntary, Manor Gardens Centre, Stephanie Gardner, Support Worker, North of England Refugee Service, Judith Gawn, Retired, Patricia Gay, Midwife, Natalie Gayle, Administrator, Agathe Geiger, Project Coordinater, Made In Hackney, M Gem, Pauline Gillett, Advanced care worker, Sefton New Directions, Susan Gillett, Children’s social worker, Local authority, Lindsay Gillman, Associate Professor of Midwifery, Deborah Gold, Chief Executive, NAT (National AIDS Trust), Nicola Goldsborough, Advanced Health Improvement Specialist, Anita Gondal, Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, Laura Goodwin, Sally Goodwin, Midwife, David Gordon, Professor of Social Justice, University of Bristol, Anita Goveas, Family support worker, Charity, Christine Grabowska, Senior Lecturer, The University of West London, Lucila Granada, Director, Latin American Women’s Rights Service , Emily Graves, Midwife, Helen Green, Midwife, Josephine Green, Professor of Psychosocial Reproductive Health (Emeritus),University of York, Lynne Gregory, Currently caring for my mother but also a qualified social worker and PhD student, De Montfort University, Shona Grover, Laurence Gruer, Honorary Professor of Public Health, Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Paul Grunnill, Marina Gunn, Bank officer, Rbs, L H, Assistant project worker, E. H., Nurse, Kate Hales, Midwife, Agnes Hann, Research & Evaluation Manager, NCT, Carol Hargreaves, Midwife, Nik Harris, Rhosyn Harris, Public Health SpR, Rebecca Hart, Director, Bigmouth Book Events & PR, Bethan Hatherall, BG Hatherall, Dietlinde Hatherall, Retired, Glyn Hatherall, lecturer (retired), Guillaumette Haughton, Administration Manager, University of Sheffield, Vittoria Hawksworth, Teaching Assistant, Vivenne Hayes, CEO, Women’s Resource Centre, Ruth Hayward, Anna Head, E Healing, Rosie Heptonstall, Support Worker, Simon Community Scotland, Marianne Hester, holds Chair in Gender, Violence and International Policy, Shaun Higgins, Milli Hill,Founder & Director, The Positive Birth Movement, Bradley Hillier, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Janice Hinson, Midwife, Emma Hinton, Midwife, Naomi Hipps, Midwife, Victoria Hodges, General Practitioner and research fellow, Mabel Holland, Singer / Birth Companion, Marie Holland, Antenatal Teacher, Kimberley Holmes, Laboratory Technician, Lucy Holmes, Student Mental Health Nurse, Briony Horvath, Julie Hotchkiss, Consultant in Public Health, Van Houten, Royal Air Force Technician, Royal Air Force, Emily Howden, Volunteer, BHA Leeds Skyline and Home start, Yasmin Huggins, Midwife, Mc Hugh, Midwife, Bethan Hughes, Assistant Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University, Deborah Hughes, Research midwife, Robert Hughes, Retired university lecturer and writer, Oxford Brookes University, Gillam-Hull, Administrator/Receptionist, Adam Hundt, Partner, Deighton Pierce Glynn, Susan Hunt, PhD Student, University of Central Lancashire, Louise Hunter, Programme Lead, Oxford Brookes University, Anita Hurrell, Alketa Hystuma, Caseworker, lmlas, David Ingleby, Research Affiliate, University of Amsterdam, Mubarak Ismail, Research fellow, Sheffield Hallam University, Rights! J, Community Development Worker, Refugee Council, Benjamin Jackson, Head of Teaching in Primary Medical Care, University of Sheffield Medical School, Elle James, Doula, Rachel James, Mother, marketing manager, volunteer, Kim Jamson, Equality Officer, Trade Union, Alwis Jayasinghe, International Accountant, ZSL, Alwis Jayasinghe, Emma Jennings, Mother/home worker, Claire Joels, Family Nurse, Helen Joels, Retired, n/a, Michael Joffe, Emeritus Reader, Imperial College London, D Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Diversity in Health, Mary Seacole Research Centre & CEEHD, Ella Johnson, Policy and Advocacy, Doctors of the World UK, Jennifer Johnson, Charlie Johnston, Sara Joiko, Indoamerican Refugee & Migrant Organisation, John Jones, L Jones, Retired midwife, The Royal College Midwives, Lucy Jones, Director of Programmes, Doctors of the World UK, Lynne Jones,Retired Nurse/Health Visitor, NHS, Rayment-Jones, Midwife and Doctoral Research Fellow, Hannah Rayment-Jones, Midwife/Researcher, S Jones, Self employed, N/A, Deb Jordan, Nurse, Deborah Jordan, HIV Specialist Nurse & Midwife, Margaret Jowitt, Homa Kabiri, Children’s advisor, Refugee Council, Elizabeth Kalynka, Lead Midwife for Equality and Diversity, Saffron Karlsen, Senior Lecturer in Social Research, University of Bristol, Jessica Keeble, GP, Susan Keegan, Yvonne Keene, Community Specialist nurse, Brenda Kelly, Consultant Obstetrician, Moira Kelly, Research Associate, Queen Mary University of London, Pat Kelly, Retired, Personal capacity, Shaista Khan, Co-Ordinator, Shama Khan, Doctor, Sue Kilminster, Faculty lead for Health Professions Education Research, University of Leeds, Franklin-King, Community Research Assistant, Born in Bradford, Beth Kirby, Quality and Development Manager, Elizabeth Kirby, Quality and Systems Officer, Mavis Kirkham, Emeritus Professor of Midwifery, Joanna Knight, Selena Knight, GP Registrar, Karima Koia, Case Worker, Health Inclusion Team, Adwoa Konadu, Catering assistant, Scott Krieger, Destitution Worker, Gillian Laing, Alba Lanau, Senior Teaching Associate, University of Bristol, Jo Lane, RGN Dip HV MA, Christine Langlands, Student, Amber Larner, Rosalind Larner, Retired, None, Anne Lashford, GP, Kay Laurenson, Paramedic, Aileen Lawrie, Head of Midwifery, Rhiana Laws, Dance Artist & Birth Educator, Clency Lebrasse, IT consultant, Sage, David Lehane, General Practitioner, Irene Leonard, Retired, Unite, Elizabeth Lephard, student midwife, Avril Levi, Midwife, Dot Lewis, Lecturer, Matilda Lewis, Student, University of Edinburgh, Ruth Lewis, Mother, Jane Linden, D Litterick, Clare Livingstone, Regional Officer, The Royal College Midwives, Gaynor Lloyd, Gwyneth Lonergan, Researcher, University of Sheffield, Natasha Lord, Cost engineer, Maura Lot, Midwife, Harriet Lowe, Communications & Research Officer, Baring Foundation, Lisa Luger, Public Health Specialist, Alison Macfarlane, Professor of Perinatal Health, City, University of London, Rebecca Macfarlane, Speciality Doctor in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Nancy Mackeith, Midwife, Krupa Madhvani, Locum Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Catherine Maffia, Refugee Health specialist, Training and Support for Services and Exiles (TS4SE) Cooperative, Lesley Mahmood, Lesley Mahmood, Sairah Mahmood, Student Midwife, Dami Makinde, Youth Organiser, Let Us Learn, Rossana Maltese, Customer Success Manager, Intralinks, Renata Cleaver Malzoni, Project Support Officer, Maternity Action, Bridget Manning, advanced nurse practitioner, Margaret Manning, Retired, Unite The Union, Carol Marira, RGN /ODP, Karolina Maroszek, Centre Manager, Haringey Migrant Support Centre, Francisco Martinez, IT, Mucha Marufu, Hepatology CNS, Roberta Masotti, Midwife, Kate Masters, Tracey Masters, Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health, Tracey Masters, Health & Safety Manager, James Matheson, General Practitioner, Rebecca Mawson, Academic GP, University of Sheffield, Sarah Mayo, UNISON, Carmen Mayorga, House wife, Lamour MBE, Director, GEEDA (Gender Education & Enterprise Development for Africa), Jess Mcardle, Student Midwife, McCarthy, Expert Practitioner and volunteer coordinator, NCT and Refugee Council, McConville, Director, White Ribbon Alliance UK, McCourt, Professor of maternal health, City, University of London, Michael Mcdermott, Head of Tax, BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon, McEwen, Emeritus Professor in Public Health, McFadden, Director of Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of Dundee, Rosamund Mcfadden, Infant Feeding Lead Midwife, Ness Mchugh, Midwifery lecturer, Catriana Mckie, Breastfeeding counsellor, McLachlan, Head of Christian Medical Fellowship Global, Christian Medical Fellowship, Abraham Mdlongwa, Project manager, Refugee Council, Helen Mead, Co-ordinator, Greenwich Migrant Hub, Anita Mehay, Research Fellow, University of East London, Sara Meinero, Midwife, Wendy Mickewright, Citizen, member of Hearing voices network and NSUN, Leah Miles, Yoga Instructor, Ishbel Miller, Lou Millington, GP, Jitka Minxova, Ghazala Mir, Associate Professor, University of Leeds, Anne Mitchell, General Practitioner and Senior Clinical Lecturer, Philipa Mladovsky, Assistant Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science, Elsa Montgomery, Head of the Department of Midwifery, King’s College London, Lizzie Moore, Public Health Registrar, Robert Moore, Emeritus Professor Sociology, The University of Liverpool, Jill Morgan, Carer, Home, Sonja Morgenstern, Casting Director, rent an actor, Sonja Morgenstern, Writer, Camilla Morris, Midwife, Georgina Morris, Consultant in Sexual Health, Catherine Muge, Petra Mullen, Midwife, David Munday, Public Health Specialty Registrar, Shazia Munir, GP/Clinical Lead Health Inclusion Clinic, Sara Munoz, Family Support Worker, Indoamerican Refugee & Migrant Organisation, Chloe Murphy, Marketing Assistant, Martin Searle Solicitors, Christine Murphy, Midwife, Clare Murphy, Director of External Affairs, BPAS, Amy Murtagh, Adviser, Project 17, Lucy Nabijou, Co-coordinator, Refugees Welcome Haringey, Iman Nafi, Casework Coordinator, Room to Heal, Iman Nafi, Casework Coordinator, Room to Heal, Catherine Nagel, GP, Marie Naish, Midwifery Lecturer, Anna Nakamura, Midwife, Angelina Namiba, Project Manager, Consultant, Kate Nash, Senior Lecturer (Midwifery), Marret Neffe, Health Care assistant, David Newall, project manager, Brushstrokes community project / Father Hudson’s Care, Joanna Newton, Sophie Nichol, Tutor, Freelance , David Nicholson, Retired, NHS, Kirsty Norris, Project Administrator, Natalie North, Project Manager, Swindon City of Sanctuary, Mike Ntochukwu, Solicitor & Immigration Adviser, Cardinal Hume Centre, V Nzeribe, Youth work consultant, InFed Training & Consultancy, Carmella Obinyan, Maternity Champion Manager Hammersmith/ Fulham, PEABODY, Rita O’brien, Retired, N/A, Katherine Oliver, Julie O’Neil, Serrano Oria, Programme Specialist – Nutrition and ECD, Unicef UK, Claire O’riordan, Student Nurse, Penelope Ormerod, Freelance Editor, Ik Osob, Analyst, Government, Lea Ouai, Doula, Rachael Owens, Practice Development Manager – Social Work, Rebecca Oxendale, Senior Nurse, Ayla Ozkan, Midwife, Karen Pagarani, NGO administrator, Phoebe Pallotti, Associate Professor of Midwifery RM, Phoebe Pallotti, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham, Leanne Palmer, Family Support Worker, Shelter, Sarah Palmer, Customer Service Advisor, retail, Susan Palmer, SAFEGUARDING MIDWIFE, Lucy Pamment, Medical Doctor, Government, R. Papadopoulos, Prof, D Parietti, Director, Sophie Park, Lawyer, London Borough of Southwark, Laura Parker, Janaina Passos, Mandy Payne, Editor, Freelance, Lucy Pearsall, Safeguarding Midwife, Anne Pearson, Retired, n/a, Anna Peaurt, Midwife, Catherine Pellegrino, Project Support Officer, Maternity Action, Silvia Perea, Doula, Silvia Petretti, Deputy CEO, Positively UK, Vikki Pevitt, Clare Phillips, Nurse specialist, Sarah Phillips, Specialist Midwife for Pregnancy Loss, Andrew Pickles, Michaela Platt, Midwife, Ray Poll, Nurse Consultant, Catherine Polling, Clinical Research Fellow, Jennie Popay, Professor of Sociology & Public Health, Lancaster University, Faye Porter, General practitioner, Jessica Potter, Chair, Medact Refugee Solidarity Group, John Power, Jaynaide Powis, Emma Price, Midwife, Amy Prodgers, Student, University of Salford, Annah Psarros, Senior Policy Officer, Maternity Action, Mar Pujades, University Academic Fellow, University of Leeds, Fizza Qureshi, Director, Migrants’ Rights Network, Maxine Radcliffe, Nurse Practitioner, Johnson-Ratcliffe, MSc Neuroscience & Psychology in Mental Health, King’s College London, Susan Rautenberg, Retired NHS Maternity Services Planner, NHS, Sarah Rayfield, Public health registrar, Catherine Rayner, Lawyer, Individual, Janine Read, Peer Navigator, Positively UK, Mary Renfrew, Professor of Mother and Infant Health, University of Dundee, Deborah Rhodes, Independent Midwife, Linda Richardson, Retired, n/a, Naomi Richardson, Student, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Francisca Rivas, Project Officer, Social Action for Health, Lucy Rix, Jill Robertson, Student Midwife, Jules Robertson, Midwife, Tamsin Robertson, Midwife, Anna Robson, Medical student, Albuerne Rodriguez, Laura Rogers, Carer, Anna Rom, GP, Diana Romero, Cleaner, Montoya Romero, Health and wellbeing Advocate, Manor Gardens Centre, Rosemary Ross, Grandmother, Hilary Rosser, Midwife, Hilary Rosser, Research Midwife, Cathy Rostas, NHS Counsellor, Anna Rowe, Medical Student soon to be doctor, Steven Rowley, Teaching Support Officer, AUPMC, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Anjona Roy, Chief Executive, Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council, Nicola Ruck, Health Human Resources consultant retd, Annie Ruddlesden, Gloria Ruiz, Marketing, Amy Russell, Senior Research Fellow, University of Leeds, Neal Russell, Paediatric doctor, Saqib Sabir, Diana Salazar, Hospitality Host, Rosemary Sales, Councillor, London Borough of Hackney, Sarah Salway, Professor of Public Health, University of Sheffield, A Sampson, Scott-Samuel, Chair, Socialist Health Association, Neil Sanyal, Omotolani Sarumi, Senior Midwife, Anna Saunders, Retired, Carol Saunders, Copywriter, Wendy Savage,Retired SL in O&G, Rebecca Schiller, CEO, Birthrights, Valerie Schofield, Pregnancy Centre Manager, Crisis Pregnancy Care, Catharina Schram, Consultant Obsterician, Vivienne Schwartzberg, Project Manager,Parents4Parents-NorthYorks, Laura Scott, Personal Advisor Leaving Care, Children’s Services, Sonya Scott, Consultant, Anna Seddon, Medical Student, Jessica Semedo, Student, Barking and Dagenham College, Helen Ed Shallow, Presenter, writer and midwife consultancy, Jane Shenton, Freelance Consultant, Jancis Shepherd, Lead Midwife for Education, Head of Midwifery, Lucy Sheppard, Natasha Shrimpton, Student Midwife, Clare Sikorska, Migrant Support Adviser, Praxis Community Projects, Jim Sikorski, GP Mental Health Lead, Lewisham CCG, Sheena Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Ron Singer, Retired GP, Doctors in Unite, Iesha Singh, Consultant, Independent, R Singh, Satbir Singh, Chief Executive, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Sam Smethers, Chief Executive, Fawcett Society, Alyna Smith, Advocacy Officer, PICUM, Audrey Smith, Support Worker, St Augustines, Jean Smith, Health Policy Advisor, Rachel Smith, Community Nurse Specialist, Rebecca Smith, Writer, Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Sarah Smith, Gilbert Smyth, N/a, Julia Snell, Associate Professor in English Language, University of Leeds, Iyiola Solanke, Chair EU Law and Social Justice, University of Leeds, Julia Solovieva, Midwife, Isobel Soper, Student, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Georgina Sosa, Lecturer in Midwifery, Ruth De Souza, Research Lead, Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, Tim Spafford, Retired, Tomasina Stacey, Lecturer in Maternal Care, University of Leeds, Jo Staines, Anthony Stapleton, Angharad Steele, Student, Maria Stefanova, Project Manager, Rebecca Steinfeld, Visiting Research Fellow, Centre of the Body, Goldsmiths, University of London, Judith Stenner, Retired Midwife, Clare Stephenson, Specialist Nurse, Hazel Stevenson, Student, University of Stirling, Olivia Stewart, Joint-Director, Indoamerican Refugee & Migrant Organisation, Lynda Stobert, Senior Lecturer, Birmingham City University, Philippa Strickett, Teacher, School, Elizabeth Such, Research Fellow, University of Sheffield, Hannah O’Sullivan, Midwife, Jane Sunderland, Freelance academic, Ex Lancaster University, Emma Svanberg, Clinical Psychologist, Lorna Sweeney, Research Fellow, University of East London, Jonathan Swift, Ala Szczepura, Professor of Health Technology Assessment, Coventry University, Margaret Taribo, Community Consultant,Parentskills2go, Ruth Tarlo, Abigail Taylor, Midwife, Carly Mattravers-Taylor, Accounts Manager, Anquale Ltd., Penny Taylor, Sarah Teather, Director, Jesuit Refugee Service, UK, Mitch Temple, Architect, Nafsika Thalassis, Director, BME Health Forum, Natasha Theobald, Freelance PR, Claire Thomas, Occupational Therapy Technician, Heather Thomas, Fundraising and Development Consultant, Third sector Migrant Organisation, Rose Thompson,Director/Radiohrapher (Therapy), Val Thurtle, Lorraine Tillett, Amanda Tobin, Director, Cycling, Maria-Luiza Todorova, Solicitor, Heather Trickey, Research Associate, Cardiff University, Avni Trivedi, Osteopath, David Truswell, Independent Healthcare Consultant, Somefreshthinking ltd., Sandy Tubeuf, Associate Professor in Health Economics, University of Leeds, Kim Vale, Grants Manager, Brooks Foundation, Marie Vandervorst, Project Manager, De Vekey, Antenatal Teacher, Robert Verrecchia, Public Health Specialty Registrar, De-Ville, Community Midwife, Andrea Vukovic, Project Director, Asylum Matters, Benna Waites, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Elizabeth Walker, Student midwife, Judith Walker, Shawn Walker, Midwifery Teaching Fellow, Elspeth Wall, Student Midwife, Sherry Wallace, Practice Nurse, Sarah Walpole, Medical Doctor, Sue Walsgrove, Retired, Home, Cathy Walton, Governance and Quality Lead, Neighbourhood Midwives, Elizabeth Walton, GP, Khan Warsi, Research Fellow, University of Leeds, Helen Watson, Midwife, Valerie Watson, Community midwife for asylum seekers and vulnerable women, Alice Webb, Interim Director, Asylum Support Appeals Project, Barbara Weed, Susan Weekes, Labour Ward coordinator, Susie Weekes, Labour Ward Coordinator, Alice Welbourn, Founding Director, Salamander Trust, Lucy West, Doctor, Tony Whelan, Education Advisor (retd), London School of Economics and Political Science (personal capacity), Caroline White, Retired Anthropologist, N/A, Claire Whitefield, Midwife, Emma Whiteford, Teacher, Self employed, Victoria Wiksen, Gilles de Wildt, Helen Wiles, Teacher, Nick Wilkie, chief executive, NCT, Debbie Wilkinson, Research scientist, University of Aberdeen, Geraldine Anup-Willcocks, Programme Specialist, Unicef, Alex Williams, GP, Annie Williams, Midwife, Catherine Williams, local Maternity Voices Partnership service user advocate member, founding committee member National Maternity Voices, Jon Williams, Doctor, Loui Williams, Researcher, UN Women, Theo Williams, Emma Williamson, Reader, University of Bristol, Paul Willis, Senior lecturer, Beth Wilson, Director, Bristol Refugee Rights, Louise Wilson, Volunteer Maternity Mate, WHFS/ Maternity Mates, Shona Wilson, Retired, Lorraine Winson, Shop steward, GMB, Nyomi Winter, Lisa Wiseman, Project Manager, Adavu Project (Birmingham Methodist District), Octavia Wiseman, Research Fellow, City, University of London, Lee-Wo, Consultant Midwife, Martha Obeng-Damptey Free Care For All Women, Team Leader, Local Authority, J Wood, Lecturer in Midwifery, Katie Wood, Senior Legal Officer, Maternity Action, Chloe Woods, Refugee Support Worker, Fiona Woollard, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Southampton, Maurice Wren, Chief Executive, Refugee Council, Mark Wright, Disability worker, Leeds Beckett, Patricia Wright, Lina von Wussow, Business translator and interpreter, Francesca Wuytack, Research Fellow, Trinity College Dublin, Christine Yates, Equalities Consultant, E&Q Consultancy Ltd, Sharon Yellin, Deputy Director of Public Health, Leeds City Council, Angela Young, Former maternity activist, Sheri Yusuff, Health Visitor / Practice Teacher, Deborah Zaher, Youth Mentor, Time to Shine.
This open letter was originally addressed to the former Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. We are re-directing it to the new Health Secretary, Matt Hancock MP.
For more information on our #ALLMothers campaign, please read our blog written by Catherine Pellegrino, who is heading up our campaign to suspend NHS charging for maternity care. To receive regular updates on #ALLMothers and future events and actions, please subscribe to our e-bulletin by filling in the subscription fields in the website footer or by emailing info@maternityaction.org.uk.