PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak said ‘more must be done’ to improve maternity care.

The Commons fell silent as Tory MP David Johnston, who represents Wantage and Didcot spoke about the death of a baby, and described how after ‘dogged campaigning’ from the family and others Nottingham University Hospitals Trust was found to have ‘systemic failures’ and last week was fined.

He asked: “Does my right honourable friend agree with me that this case, this situation, has to serve not just as a watershed moment for having the highest standards of maternity care?

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“But also that when things do go wrong in something like an NHS trust or another public body, they have to be open and honest and transparent about their failings?”

Mr Sunak expressed condolences. He said: “We want to make sure that the NHS is the best and safest place in the world to give birth, and the NHS has taken steps to improve. But cases such as the one that my honourable friend raises highlight that more must be done.”

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He outlined the steps being taken in Nottingham and nationally, adding: “But my honourable friend is absolutely right, when situations like this do arise, transparency is paramount so we can seek answers and make improvements.”

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This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @geeharland