Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH)

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) commenced in April 2003.  We aim to improve the health of mothers, babies and children by carrying out confidential enquiries on a nationwide basis and by widely disseminating our findings and recommendations.

CEMACH runs two programmes:

Our work consists of a number of elements, for example:

The maternal and perinatal mortality surveillance and national clinical audits are commissioned by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) as part of their responsibility for the national confidential enquiry programme. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) through the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHSQIS) also contribute to this programme. Our other work is commissioned by a variety of funding bodies including national charities, pharmaceutical and NHS bodies (including NHS Trusts).   

How We Are Organised

CEMACH has a central office in Baker Street in London which also houses the regional office activity for London and the South East. There are a further five regional offices in England, and affiliated offices in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man also participate in the enquiry programme.
 
CEMACH is an independent body managed by a consortium of eight Royal Colleges each of which nominate a board member:

There are three lay members on the Board.
 
There is a national professional advisory committee for our programmes – the National Advisory Committee for Enquiries into Maternal Health (NACEMH), and the National Advisory Committee for Enquiries in Child Health (NACECH).

Network website: www.cemach.org.uk
Network contact: info@cemach.org.uk, tel. 020 7486 1191