In a crucial move aimed at enhancing maternal healthcare standards, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a comprehensive national investigation into maternity care across England. This urgent inquiry is particularly focused on identifying failings in the country’s most poorly performing maternity and neonatal services, encompassing regions such as Leeds, Sussex, Gloucester, and Mid and South Essex. This investigation is positioned as a response to alarming patterns of avoidable harm experienced by families during childbirth, following a series of maternity scandals that have highlighted the tragic failures within certain NHS Trusts.
Streeting’s announcement marks a significant moment in the NHS’s ongoing efforts to restore trust and accountability among patients and families affected by these grave incidents. Meeting with parents who have endured the heartbreaking loss of their babies due to lapses in care, Streeting emphasized the necessity of this investigation to ensure that bereaved families receive both the truth and the accountability they deserve. “This inquiry will not only seek out the truth but will also hold the relevant parties accountable,” he stated, underscoring the emotional weight of these experiences on families.
The investigation is set to commence this summer, with the expectation that it will provide findings by December 2025. This timeline reflects the urgency expressed by Streeting and the broader NHS commitment to promptly address the failures that have plagued various maternity services. While the inquiry is expected to cover a broad range of issues, it is specifically designed to yield quick answers for the families of up to ten of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units, therefore prioritizing immediate support for affected families.
During his announcement, Streeting publicly apologized on behalf of the NHS to those families who have suffered unnecessary harm and distress. This expression of remorse is pivotal amid growing calls for systemic change following other high-profile scandals, including those observed in Morecambe Bay, East Kent, Shrewsbury and Telford, and Nottingham. These incidents have frequently spotlighted institutional failings and a lack of adequate oversight, raising concerns about the safety and quality of care provided during one of life’s most critical scenarios.
Significantly, Streeting highlighted that the review will incorporate the voices of victims who have previously faced medical mishaps in maternity services, aiming for a co-production approach that firmly places families at the center of the inquiry’s operation. This collaboration not only enhances the legitimacy of the investigation but also reassures families that their experiences will shape the resultant improvements in care.
Streeting remarked that he is acutely aware of the dedication and compassion displayed by most NHS midwives, obstetricians, and neonatal staff, recognizing that the vast majority of childbirth experiences are, indeed, safe and hopeful. However, he also acknowledged that systemic issues have led to failures that must not persist. “For the past year, I have been meeting bereaved families who have lost babies or suffered serious harm during what should have been the most joyful time in their lives. Their stories are deeply painful — traumatic narratives underscored by a lack of compassionate care, which should never occur,” Streeting articulated.
The structure of the investigation comprises two distinct phases. The first phase is dedicated to swiftly examining the alarming cases at several identified maternity units, thereby providing families with direct answers regarding their experiences. The second phase will undertake a comprehensive review of all maternity and neonatal care throughout the country. This broader analysis aims to synthesize lessons learned from various inquiries, ultimately establishing a national framework of actions designed to augment care across every NHS maternity service.
Through this significant and necessary inquiry, the UK government aspires to effect lasting change in maternity care, ensuring that no parent or baby is overlooked or underserved. As the inquiry takes shape, there exists a collective hope for a transformation that prioritizes safety, accountability, and compassionate care in the NHS maternity system.