Biography
Baroness Blackstone has engaged extensively on maternity and end-of-life care through 11 debate speeches and committee work, drawing on her role as chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists trust board. She has consistently raised concerns about NHS workforce pressures in obstetrics, citing surveys showing significant numbers of clinicians considering leaving the profession due to burnout and poor working conditions, and emphasised the importance of workforce planning in delivering maternity improvements. She has also been a vocal advocate for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, speaking in support across multiple debates and engaging extensively during the Committee stage.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“…The RCOG desperately wants to see an improvement in the services that mothers and children are getting in maternity. I do not know whether the Minister is aware that some 68% of all clinicians are working hours way beyond their contracts, and 25% of them are talking about leaving the profession within five years becaus…”
Record by topic
- Maternity & neonatal96th of 43810.5
- Assisted dying109th of 3718.0
- NHS & care workforce/staffing101st of 3024.5
- Palliative & end of life care294th of 5684.0
- Public health & prevention562nd of 6882.5
- Learning disability & autism756th of 8992.0
- Mental health750th of 8802.0
- Cancer503rd of 6222.0
What they’ve said
“…I regret that she felt the need to do that. It is absolutely true that, when assisted dying was debated in the House in 2014 and 2015, the medical professional organisations were opposed and there was justification in referring to it at that time.”
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill · 2026-04-24 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…The largest survey of medical opinion in the UK by the BMA found doctors more likely to support than to oppose assisted dying. Organisations that represent them have worked closely with my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer and Kim Leadbeater MP, the sponsor of the Bill in the House of Commons.”
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill · 2026-04-24 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…d gynaecologists is considering leaving the profession, citing burnout, poor working conditions and, above all, staff shortages. It would be helpful if she could tell the House, in this context, exactly when the workforce plan that I know she intends to publish will actually be completed and come out.”
Women’s Health Strategy · 2026-04-23 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Women accessing early medical abortion through a licensed provider will speak to a doctor, a nurse or a midwife who follows established safeguarding protocols, asking an agreed list of questions to verify what the woman seeking an abortion has said.”
Crime and Policing Bill · 2026-03-18 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…It has specifically briefed against prohibiting doctors from initiating discussion about assisted dying under the Bill, warning that it will be detrimental to patient care. I accept this piece of advice from the BMA. It is a view that many doctors, and some in this Chamber, too, would actually adhere to and agree with.”
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill · 2026-03-13 · Read on Hansard ↗
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