National Maternity Investigation Uncovers Systemic Failings in NHS Care
A damning interim report published on Thursday from a national investigation into England's maternity services has revealed deep-rooted issues affecting women and their babies. The findings highlight insensitivity from maternity staff, racism and discrimination, and chronic staff shortages as critical problems plaguing the system.
What Is the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation?
Last June, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a national investigation into NHS maternity services across England. Led by Lady Amos, the inquiry was called to examine what Streeting described as the systemic causes of unacceptable care affecting women, babies, and families. The investigation includes a call for evidence from the public and panels of experts, aiming to establish national recommendations to improve maternity and neonatal care and safety nationwide. It will also address persistent inequalities faced by women from ethnic minority and deprived backgrounds.
The investigation involves local probes into maternity and neonatal services at 12 NHS trusts. The full report is scheduled for publication in the spring of this year, following initial impressions released in December and the interim report issued on Thursday.
Why Has the Investigation Been Launched?
The investigation follows a series of high-profile maternity failings across several NHS trusts. These include the results of a five-year investigation into 1,862 maternity cases led by expert midwife Donna Ockenden, which concluded that hundreds of babies died or were left brain damaged due to inadequate care at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.
In February of last year, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was fined £1.6 million after admitting it failed to provide safe care and treatment to three babies who died within months of one another. In 2024, the UK's first inquiry into birth trauma found that women had been ignored and left with permanent damage by midwives and doctors, with many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Current State of Maternity Care Across England
The rate of maternal death in the UK stands at 12.8 deaths per 100,000 maternities, which is 20% higher than in 2009-11, when the then-government set an ambition to halve the rate of maternal mortality in England. Many maternity wards have fallen short of required standards, with Care Quality Commission inspections finding more than a third (36%) of NHS maternity services requiring improvement, while just over one in ten (12%) were inadequate.
Ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities are starkly evident throughout maternity care. Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth compared with their white counterparts, and women from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to die during childbirth compared with those from more affluent backgrounds.
Responses from Bereaved Families and Affected Individuals
While some families have welcomed the investigation, others argue it does not go far enough and have called for a statutory inquiry. The Maternity Safety Alliance, led by bereaved women, is advocating for a judge-led statutory inquiry into England's maternity units, describing the government's current approach as performative. The organisation criticised the initial reflections for using language that minimised the severity of the avoidable harm taking place in NHS services.
New Findings and Next Steps
The interim findings have reinforced allegations of inadequate staffing. Additionally, they detail that many families have experienced cover-ups and a lack of transparency from NHS trusts while seeking answers about birth trauma and baby loss. The investigation is set to conclude in the spring, with two final reports due to be published, containing a full set of recommendations and reflections.
