A shocking blind spot in the NHS’s data collection practices has left a lack of ethnicity data in maternity care litigation, hindering efforts to address inequality and ensure accountability in the healthcare system.
A recent freedom of information request by Lime Solicitors has revealed a shocking blind spot in the NHS’s data collection practices. The law firm submitted requests to various NHS bodies and NHS Resolution, seeking details on the ethnicity and nationality of claimants who sued over poor maternity care. However, most replies indicated that they do not record such information.
Lime Solicitors is a UK-based law firm providing legal services to individuals and businesses.
The firm specializes in personal injury claims, employment law, and property disputes.
Lime Solicitors operates on a no-win-no-fee basis, making legal representation more accessible to clients.
With a team of experienced solicitors, the firm aims to provide expert advice and guidance throughout the legal process.
This lack of transparency is deeply concerning, as it hampers efforts to spot worrying patterns of care failures and improve services for ‘black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) families.’ The absence of ethnicity data is a glaring omission that undermines efforts to address inequality and ensure accountability in the healthcare system.
Maternity care disparities refer to the unequal access and quality of healthcare received by pregnant women and new mothers from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 810 women die every day due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
In the United States, African American women are three to four times more likely to experience maternal mortality compared to white women.
Factors contributing to disparities include lack of insurance coverage, inadequate prenatal care, and discriminatory treatment.
Racial Disparities in Maternity Care
The problem is not new. Well-documented racial disparities in maternity care have been highlighted by various studies and reports. ‘Black women in the UK are almost four times more likely to die during pregnancy or while giving birth than their white counterparts.’ Black babies are twice as likely to die before reaching 24 weeks of gestation.
Racial disparities refer to differences in outcomes, opportunities, and experiences between racial and ethnic groups.
These disparities can manifest in various areas, including education, healthcare, employment, and justice systems.
According to the US Census Bureau (2020), racial and ethnic minorities face significant barriers to economic mobility, with median household income levels varying by 20% or more compared to white households.
The American Community Survey (2019) also reports that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be stopped by police than whites.
Patient safety campaigners, lawyers, and health experts argue that this lack of data is unacceptable. Without ethnicity information, it is impossible to push for meaningful improvements in care. The NHS must start collating such details to better understand the drivers of these disparities and develop targeted interventions.
A Call for Action
The government has acknowledged the need for better data collection as part of efforts to address the stark inequalities faced by women and babies. An NHS spokesperson stated that ‘no woman should experience poor care because of her ethnicity or background’ and that ‘better data is essential to understanding where and how we need to intervene.’
However, experts argue that this is too little, too late. The NHS must take immediate action to improve its data collection practices and ensure that authorities are working together to identify and reduce inequalities.
The Consequences of Inaction
If decisions about healthcare are based on incomplete evidence, health interventions will continue to leave marginalized communities under-supported and poorly cared for. This is a stark warning from Prof Habib Naqvi, the chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory.
The NHS’s failure to record ethnicity data is a shocking blind spot that undermines efforts to address inequality and ensure accountability in the healthcare system. It is time for the NHS to take action and start collecting this vital information to improve services for all patients.
