HC Deb 28 April 1994 vol 242 c304W
Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Department intends to take to improve co-operation or impose sanctions so that all report forms of maternal death are returned to the confidential inquiry into maternal death.

Mr. Sackville

One of the outstanding features of the confidential inquiry into maternal deaths and one of the factors contributing to its success, has been its voluntary nature. The Department therefore has no plans to impose sanctions on health authorities for the return of report forms notifying maternal deaths.

However, when the latest report, covering the period 1988–90, was disseminated in January of this year, under cover of a leter PLCMO(94)1 from the Chief Medical Officer, the opportunity was taken to remind health professionals of the importance of completing reports promptly. This is a matter that is kept under regular review. Copies of the letter are available in the Library.