Baby Lifeline inputs into third phase of Covid-19 Inquiry looking at the impact on healthcare systems

This week was the start of the third stage of the Covid-19 Inquiry, which has been set up to examine the UK’s response to the impact of the pandemic and learn lessons for the future. Baby Lifeline is one of 13 Pregnancy, Baby, and Parenting Organisations (PBPOs) with Core Participant Status for the inquiry. This means we, as a group, have a formal role within the inquiry.

The third stage of the inquiry looks specifically at the impact that Covid-19 had on healthcare systems in the UK.

What happened this week?

The barrister acting for us, Adam Wagner, presented his opening statement on behalf of the 13 PBPOs. In his opening statement he said that there were “structural failures to recognise the importance of continued care for women, pregnant people and children”.

His opening statement had four themes:

• Staff shortages which had an impact on being able to provide services in maternity and neonatal care and, therefore, the decisions women and birthing people could make about their births and care.
• Visitor restrictions and inconsistencies across the UK, which prevented women, birthing people and babies from having essential support. He spoke of the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch (HSIB) report looking at the increase of stillbirths during the pandemic, which identified that 43% of birth incidents investigated involved a mother who did not speak English.
• Inequalities which emerged in the delivery of early pregnancy, maternity care and neonatal services during the pandemic.
• PPE care and contact with babies, and the impact that had on families caring for their babies in neonatal units.

Mr Wagner finished by asking, on behalf of the PBPOs, “to make sure that pregnant women, new parents and infants are not overlooked in future pandemic responses and public emergencies”. He called for proper resourcing to make sure that pregnant people and newborn babies are safe. If you would like to watch Mr Wagner’s full statement, you can watch it here.

We also heard the experiences of a Mum, Catherine Todd, who contracted Covid-19 and whose baby was born 12 weeks early. The systemic failures apparent in her care, also noted by our organisations in Mr Wagner’s opening address, meant that “the whole experience will impact her and her partner for the rest of their lives”. You can read more about Catherine’s experience here, which you may find distressing or triggering.