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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urgently called for action to be taken by announcing a national investigation into maternity care in England. The inquiry will focus on the worst-performing maternity and neonatal services in the country, including locations such as Leeds, Sussex, Gloucester, and Mid and South Essex. Streeting emphasized the importance of ensuring that families affected by maternity scandals receive the truth and accountability they deserve through this investigation, which is set to commence this summer and conclude by December 2025.
During the announcement, Streeting conveyed an apology on behalf of the NHS to families who have suffered avoidable harm as a result of maternity scandals. The review, prompted by incidents such as those in Morecambe Bay, East Kent, Shrewsbury and Telford, and Nottingham, is aiming to involve the victims of these scandals in order to provide them with a voice in the inquiry process. Streeting expressed a commitment to preventing any future letdowns of parents or babies within NHS maternity care, acknowledging the significant impact of these failures on families and the healthcare system as a whole.
The inquiry itself will consist of two main parts. The first part will focus on investigating up to 10 of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units to provide families with answers as swiftly as possible. The second part will involve a comprehensive examination of maternity and neonatal care on a national scale to identify overarching actions for improvement across all NHS maternity services. Additionally, plans for an anti-discrimination program aimed at addressing disparities in care for minority communities are in the works. This initiative follows a series of critical reports on maternity care over the past decade, highlighting the need for systemic change within the healthcare system as a whole.
Dr. Clea Harmer, chief executive of the baby loss charity Sands, expressed support for the national investigation, labeling it as “much-needed and long-overdue.” She stressed the necessity of implementing lasting systemic change to address the deep-rooted issues within maternity care highlighted by various scandals. Anne Kavanagh, representing Irwin Mitchell solicitors, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of decisive action following the inquiry. Kavanagh noted that previous recommendations and investigations had not been fully implemented, underscoring the critical need to improve patient safety and learn from past mistakes to prevent future occurrences of harm within maternity care
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