NHS Maternity Failings Highlight Urgent Care Reform

Published: 09 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Victims of NHS maternity failings in England have endured care described as “unacceptable,” resulting in tragic consequences for both mothers and babies. An early report from the national maternity and neonatal investigation (NMNI), led by Valerie Amos, revealed that changes across NHS services have been far too slow, despite urgent calls for reform.

Lady Amos shared her initial observations after visiting seven NHS trusts, speaking directly with affected families, and meeting staff members. She emphasised that the ongoing risks to babies and mothers demand immediate action to standardise care across trusts nationwide.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Amos said, “Given that these harms continue to be done, given that babies continue to die… are there things that we should be doing to standardise the level of care across different trusts? Yes.”

The report highlights that 748 recommendations related to maternity and neonatal care have been issued over the past decade, which Amos described as “staggering.” Families have recounted experiences of care failings that left them profoundly impacted, emotionally and physically, with many still suffering the consequences.

Amos expressed shock at the scale of the issue: “I expected to hear experiences from families about where they had been let down, but nothing prepared me for the scale of unacceptable care and the tragic consequences for their babies.” She added that the failures extend to serious issues like discrimination against women of colour, younger parents, working-class mothers, and those with mental health challenges.

The investigation identified recurring problems, including women not being listened to, lacking vital information for informed choices, and being placed in distressing situations, such as bereaved mothers sharing wards with newborns. Cases were also reported where concerns about reduced foetal movement were ignored, and insufficient empathy from clinical teams left women feeling blamed or guilty.

Families affected by these failings have called for a statutory public inquiry, requesting honest and constructive feedback. Amos noted, “I do not understand why change has been so slow. It is clear that change is not only possible but also necessary, and it is urgent.”

The NMNI will concentrate on twelve NHS trusts, with final findings due in 2026. Amos affirmed confidence in meeting deadlines and delivering recommendations aimed at fundamental improvements across maternity services.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who commissioned the investigation, acknowledged the devastating impact on families and stressed the courage of bereaved individuals coming forward. “The systemic failures causing preventable tragedies cannot be ignored,” he said, underlining the commitment to ensure safe births for all.

Anne Kavanagh, a medical negligence lawyer representing hundreds of affected families, highlighted that these failings are part of deep-rooted, long-standing problems, citing historic scandals at Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford, and East Kent hospital trusts. She called the revelation of nearly 750 recommendations over the past decade “truly staggering.”

Streeting is establishing a national maternity and neonatal taskforce in the new year, which he will chair. He emphasised that families will remain central to both the investigation and the ongoing response to prevent future tragedies. Duncan Burton, England’s chief nursing officer, welcomed Amos’s findings as a crucial step toward meaningful improvements and reassured families that NHS staff continue striving to provide safe, compassionate care.

Angela McConville, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust, noted that while many women have safe births, the inconsistencies in care remain unacceptable. She stressed that the challenge now is to understand why previous recommendations have not led to real change and ensure all women and babies receive reliable, safe care.

The report underscores the urgent need for nationwide reforms in maternity services, addressing systemic failings, standardising care quality, and prioritising the wellbeing of mothers and newborns. Families affected by these tragedies hope that the investigation’s forthcoming recommendations will finally deliver meaningful, long-overdue improvements.