Key Summary
- Baroness Amos will lead the investigation and the report is expected by 2026 spring
- Trusts chosen based on data analysis and the views of affected families
- The investigation will also examine why black and Asian families have noticeably poorer outcomes
Maternity services of 14 NHS trust hospitals would face scrutiny for their alleged "failures" in maternity and neonatal services.
Baroness Amos will lead the investigation, which is part of a rapid review of maternity care in England that was announced in June.
The health secretary, West Streeting, had previously announced the "rapid" national investigation of 10 trusts, which has now been expanded to 14.
The review will examine the experience of families and staff within England's maternity services and investigate why the recommendations from previous maternity inquiries have not led to improvements.
Baroness Amos said the investigation will also examine why black and Asian families have noticeably poorer outcomes.
The Department of Health stated that the trusts had been selected based on data analysis and the views of families.
However, the Maternity Safety Alliance (MSA), a group of families harmed by poor maternity care in several NHS trusts across England, is not satisfied with the government measures.
MSA is unhappy with the scope of the investigation and what it would examine.
They are particularly critical of the decision not to investigate the role of NHS regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission and NHS Resolution, the health service's insurance and litigation arm.
Many families are upset that Streeting opted for the rapid review instead of a national inquiry into maternity care.
Baby loss charities Sands and Tommy's claimed that improved maternity care may have prevented the deaths of over 800 babies in 2022-23.
The 14 hospitals chosen for the investigation are as follows:
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals
- University Hospitals of Leicester
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
- Sandwell and West Birmingham
- Gloucestershire Hospitals
- Yeovil District Hospital
- Oxford University Hospital
- University Hospitals Sussex
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals
- Queen Elizabeth, Kings Lynn
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay
- East Kent Hospitals
- Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital
In the Oxford University Hospitals Trust listed above, more than 500 families have reportedly suffered harm.
The review was due to be completed by December, but has been postponed to Spring 2026.
NHS Confederation director Rory Deighton said, "It’s vital that we learn from failings in maternity services so that care can be made safer for all women and babies.
"That’s why this inquiry needs to be about learning, and it needs to develop a package of support that leads to sustained improvements in maternity care.”
