Streeting launches national inquiry into maternity care

Health secretary Wes Streeting has launched a national investigation into NHS maternity services after a string of scandals exposed a crisis” in care.

- TARA COBHAM

The new rapid investigation will look at "systemic" failures in maternity and neo-natal units "up and down the country", which are leaving women and babies at a "considerably higher" risk than they should be.

The probe will focus on the 10 "worst performing" maternity services in England in a bid to drive urgent improvements to safety for pregnant women and their babies, Mr Streeting said.

Experts have warned that too many women and babies are not getting the maternity care they deserve, with tragic outcomes.

Mr Streeting said he had met with families who had lost babies and had later been "gaslit" in their search for the truth. He pointed to "appalling scandals" in the past 15 years in Shrewsbury, Telford, East Kent and Nottingham, which The Independent uncovered.

Apologising on behalf of the NHS for what families have been through, he said: "For the past year, I have been meeting bereaved families from across the country who have lost babies or suffered serious harm during what should have been the most joyful time in their lives.

"What they have experienced is devastating - deeply painful stories of trauma, loss, and a lack of basic compassion - caused by failures in NHS maternity care that should never have happened. Their bravery in speaking out has made it clear: we must act and we must act now.

"I know nobody wants better for women and babies than the thousands of NHS midwives, obstetricians, maternity and neonatal staff, and that the vast majority of births are safe and without incident, but it's clear something is going wrong.

"That's why I've ordered a rapid national investigation to make sure these families get the truth and the accountability they deserve, and ensure no parent or baby is ever let down again. I want staff to come with us on this, to improve things for everyone."