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Maternity Services & Baby Health
Is this devolved to Wales?
Devolved
The necessary powers are not reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Shared Powers
Insert a specific explanation of the powers situation for this issue here.
Not Devolved
The powers over this are reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Specific Section/Number/Clause).
In September 2026, the Welsh Government announced the national rollout of the Call for Concern system. In their words, this will “give women, parents and families a clear route to ask for urgent help if they’re worried that someone’s health is getting worse.”
The system is supposed to record a concern and, if needed, ensure a clinical review1.
The new system has been set up in response to various reviews into services at health boards across Wales which have recommended that patients concerns about sudden declines in health are listened to and acted on early.
While this applies to all specialities, in the Senedd it has been mentioned specifically in relation to maternity services. Several reviews, such as that into Swansea Bay maternity services, have found that new parents have been ignored or have faced a lack of compassion from staff2.
England has introduced a similar system called Martha’s Rule.
There’s more information below.
Costs & Economic Impact
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Explanation
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Who has raised this at the Senedd?
Delyth Jewell MS
Deputy Minister for Social Care
Sara Crowley MS
Backbencher
Claire Archibald MS
Shadow Social Care Minister
Francesca O'Brien MS
Shadow Local Government Minister
Dr Gareth Thomas MS
Shadow Mental Health Minister
Jayne Bryant MS
Chair: Health & Social Care
Peter Fox MS
Backbencher
Delyth Jewell MS
Deputy Minister for Social Care
Sara Crowley MS
Backbencher
Claire Archibald MS
Shadow Social Care Minister
Francesca O'Brien MS
Shadow Local Government Minister
Dr Gareth Thomas MS
Shadow Mental Health Minister
Jayne Bryant MS
Chair: Health & Social Care
Peter Fox MS
Backbencher
What are the party positions on this?
- Supports in principle
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Plaid Cymru backbenchers want to ensure patients are aware of the service.
- Supports in principle
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Reform UK MSs stressed the importance of making sure parents are aware of the service, and also the need to address mental health issues during pregnancy.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Mixed Views
Labour supports Call for Concern, but wants a greater focus on staffing pressures.
- Supports in principle
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
The Conservatives support the rollout of Call for Concern, but don’t want the Welsh Government to lose sight of the failures which prompted it being brought in.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this specifically.
Who is responsible?
Delyth Jewell MS
Deputy Minister for Social Care
What have ministers said?
What's being done about this?
The Welsh Government has supported the rollout of the Call for Concern system.
There’s a commitment to improve mental health services for new mothers, and an overarching commitment from the Deputy Minister to ensure women’s voices are heard as part of an updated Women’s Health Plan.
As things stand, no.
Health boards are expected to show that they are reliably recording patient concerns before the end of 2026.
What have the Senedd's Committees said?
Nothing has been discussed yet.
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Relevant Votes
Nothing to see yet.
Further Reading
- Welsh Government (16th September 2026). “Families given clearer way to raise concerns when a mother or baby’s health is getting worse in maternity and neonatal wards“
- Swansea Bay University Health Board (July 2025). “Summary Report of:The Independent Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services (pdf)”
