The Government recognises that a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy or maternity leave can have a significant impact on women and their families.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will provide support to people with cancer before, during, and after their treatment, including for pregnant or postnatal women. Everyone should get a personalised needs assessment and personal cancer plan that takes into account their wider psychological and social needs, including the impact of pregnancy where relevant.

Health professionals should provide integrated care for pregnant women facing serious physical illnesses and mental health challenges. Significant progress has been made across England in recent years to transform and increase access to specialist perinatal mental health services.

The situation in North Devon in recent weeks has been unacceptable. As the Prime Minister told the House on 2 September, we expect the situation in North Devon to be resolved in the coming weeks.

The local National Health Service trust has set out a provisional timeline for reopening birthing services which is available at the following link:

https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/maternity-and-obstetrics/nddh-birth-services-temporary-changes/

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.

The taskforce will consider all aspects of those current services, including miscarriage care. Within this, we will carefully assess the findings from the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study as committed to in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

Pregnant women are offered at least two ultrasound scans during pregnancy, at 11 to 14 weeks and between 18 and 21 weeks. National Health Service trusts are measured against the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme standard for the 20-week screening scan. This standard requires providers to offer the scan between 18 weeks and zero days, and 20 weeks and six days of pregnancy. The screening pathway should be completed by 23 weeks and zero days of pregnancy.

The Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care are in regular contact on a range of issues, including health and social care policy.

As previously set out, the Government extends its sincere and heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by sodium valproate. We recognise the suffering that many individuals and families have experienced and the lasting impact these harms have had on their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Policy on the issue of redress for families affected by sodium valproate during pregnancy is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care. The Department has been in contact with the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, with regard to the ongoing health initiatives it is taking forward in conjunction with NHS England, relating to sodium valproate. Details of the Government’s work to date are set out in recent letters to Professor Hughes, which are published on the PSC website.

Q13

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Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab):

I thank the Prime Minister for his commitment to mental health and to building a country that acts sooner when people need help. Five years ago, I lost one of my best friends, Sophie, to suicide after the birth of her third child; her little girl was just 10 weeks old at the time. Having a new baby can be a time of great excitement and joy, but for one in four women, it is a time of mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to obsessive compulsive disorder and serious conditions like post-partum psychosis. I have introduced a Bill—Sophie’s law—to ensure that every pregnant woman gets a mental health check-in. Will the Prime Minister work with me to ensure that no one else struggles in the way that Sophie did?

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the incredible work she is doing in memory of her friend; I know that her dad Nigel has also campaigned so strongly on this. I have always believed in whole-person care—in physical, mental and social care being delivered together. We are investing more in perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationships—more funding is going in—but I accept, as she is saying, that more needs to be done. I will look at her Bill. I understand the call for Sophie’s law and will make sure that a Health Minister meets her to discuss it.

The Government recognises that a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy or maternity leave can have a significant impact on mothers and their families. In February 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care published the National Cancer Plan, which includes support to help people with cancer remain in or return to work and access advice and assistance throughout their treatment and recovery. The Parental Leave and Pay Review presents a much-needed opportunity to consider the system of parental leave and pay. All current parental leave and pay entitlements are in scope of the Review, including maternity.

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

No assessment has been made of pre-natal testing and treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. However, we refer the Hon Member to the announcement made on post-natal screening for spinal muscular atrophy by the Department on 16 July 2026, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/every-baby-in-england-to-get-life-saving-genetic-test-from-birth

The new born heel prick test is routinely carried out by health visitors or community midwives on day five after birth. No assessment has been made of the merits of carrying out the test at day one.

No assessment has been made of pre-natal testing and treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. However, we refer the Hon Member to the announcement made on post-natal screening for spinal muscular atrophy by the Department on 16 July 2026, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/every-baby-in-england-to-get-life-saving-genetic-test-from-birth

The new born heel prick test is routinely carried out by health visitors or community midwives on day five after birth. No assessment has been made of the merits of carrying out the test at day one.

In line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, the current version of the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle, published April 2025, recommends that carbon monoxide testing is offered for all women at antenatal booking and the 36-week antenatal appointment, and additionally at every antenatal appointment for the groups identified in NICE Guideline 209, which includes women who "tested with 4 parts per million or above at the first antenatal appointment".

As part of the routine review process for each update to the Care Bundle, relevant national guidance, including NICE and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidelines, alongside evidence and best practice are assessed to determine whether any changes are required. Scoping has not yet begun on a new version of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.