Imagine bringing a new life into the world—only to have that moment of joy turn into unimaginable loss and trauma.
That’s the heartbreaking reality many families across England have faced due to failings in NHS maternity services. And now, the government is finally responding.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced an urgent national investigation into some of England’s most troubled maternity and neonatal units.
The move comes after listening to families who have endured the worst outcomes during what should have been the happiest moments of their lives.
Listening to Families and Facing the Truth
Speaking at the World Congress of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Mr. Streeting shared how deeply affected he has been by stories from grieving parents.
These were not isolated incidents—he described a systemic failure in maternity care that can no longer be ignored.
“I’ve come to realise this isn’t just about a few bad hospitals.
It’s about widespread breakdowns across our health system,” he admitted.
“I’ve met with families who’ve been through the unimaginable—losing babies, suffering trauma, and receiving no compassion in their darkest moments.”
Launching a National Review with Urgency
The new investigation will kick off this summer and aims to deliver results by December 2025.
It will start by focusing on 10 of the worst-performing maternity and neonatal units, including those in Leeds, Sussex, Gloucester, and Mid and South Essex.
Mr. Streeting stressed that the risk to mothers and babies is currently “far too high” because of what he calls a maternity crisis.
Previous scandals—like those in Shrewsbury and Telford, East Kent, Morecambe Bay, and Nottingham—have already exposed just how dangerous this crisis has become.
Accountability, Compassion, and Real Change
“This is no longer about patching up the holes,” Streeting said.
“It’s time to overhaul the system. We owe it to the families who’ve suffered and to every expectant mother going forward.”
The review will unfold in two phases:
- Targeted Investigations: A deep dive into up to 10 maternity units with the most pressing concerns, to get answers fast.
- System-Wide Reform: A comprehensive look across NHS maternity care, combining lessons from past inquiries and creating clear national actions for improvement.
Including the Voices That Matter Most
Importantly, this review isn’t just top-down.
The government plans to co-design the investigation with families who’ve experienced maternity care failures.
That includes looking closely at individual stories from families in Leeds and Sussex, and using their insights to shape the direction of the work.
“I’m speaking directly with families and campaigners in these areas,” Streeting explained.
“We’re not sweeping anything under the rug. These families deserve the truth, and they deserve justice.”
A National Task Force to Drive Reform
To lead the charge, Mr. Streeting will chair a new national maternity and neonatal task force.
This group will bring together health professionals, bereaved families, campaigners, and experts to push forward real change across the NHS.
Looking Back at Shocking Failures
This investigation is long overdue, especially considering what we’ve already uncovered.
A 2022 probe into the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust found that poor care led to 200 baby deaths and nine maternal deaths—many of which could have been prevented.
One of the key problems? A push to reduce C-sections in favour of natural births, even when it endangered lives.
More recently, the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was fined £1.6 million for repeated failures in maternity care.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates health services, has prosecuted this trust more than once—an alarming sign of persistent issues.
The Human Cost of Negligence
Beyond the deaths, there’s also a silent crisis: birth trauma.
According to the Birth Trauma Association, around 20,000 women a year develop postnatal PTSD, and up to 200,000 women experience some form of trauma during childbirth.
Add to that the financial burden: 65% of the NHS’s £69.3 billion clinical negligence bill in 2022–23 was linked to maternity and neonatal care.
The situation isn’t just tragic—it’s unsustainable.
A System Under Pressure
Midwives on the ground describe working in the NHS like a “warped game of Russian roulette,” with lives constantly hanging in the balance.
Chronic understaffing and underfunding are major problems.
The Royal College of Midwives estimates that England is short of at least 2,500 midwives.
In April, a MailOnline investigation revealed that more than half of all maternity services in the country are failing, based on the CQC’s own ratings.
While this is a slight improvement from last year, it’s still a bleak picture.
Time to Make Maternity Care Safe Again
Last year, a parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma collected testimony from over 1,300 women.
Many described being treated like a “slab of meat.”
Former Health Secretary Victoria Atkins called their stories “harrowing” and promised better care for women before, during, and after childbirth.
Now, the spotlight is on Wes Streeting.
He made it clear: “Maternity care will be the true test of how seriously this government takes patient safety.
I’m determined to make sure no family has to go through this ever again.”
What’s Next?
The investigation begins this summer. Families affected by past scandals will help guide its path.
Failing hospitals will be held accountable.
And the government, alongside NHS staff, will face its biggest challenge yet—restoring safety, dignity, and trust in maternity care across England.
One thing is certain: change is coming, and it can’t come soon enough.