Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation

I am announcing today the 14 hospital trusts that will be looked at as part of a rapid, independent, national investigation into maternity and neonatal services. In June, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting), announced this urgent investigation because of concerning patterns in baby deaths and maternal mortality, and because of the extremely harrowing and traumatic stories that bereaved families brought directly to the Secretary of State and the Department.

The Secretary of State asked Baroness Valerie Amos to chair this review—a former diplomat with vast leadership experience and a passion for driving change. Baroness Amos has selected the 14 trusts for local investigations, based on a range of factors. These include data and metrics, such as data from the Care Quality Commission maternity patient survey and MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality rates, as well as criteria to ensure: a diverse mix of trusts; variation in case mix, trust type, and geographic coverage; and provision of care to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including consideration of social, economic and racial inequalities, family feedback, and where previous investigations have taken place.

From smaller hospital trusts to those operating in our bigger cities, the 14 trusts will help Baroness Amos and her expert advisers to assess maternity and neonatal units of all shapes and sizes. Rest assured that the voices of women and families remain at the heart of this process, as evidence is gathered directly from those with lived experience. I know that for families who are carrying a traumatic burden from what they have gone through, helping us shape this is yet another extremely difficult process to bear. The Secretary of State and I are incredibly grateful to all the families who have taken part and fed into this investigation.

To be clear, this is not about naming and shaming trusts. Expecting parents should not be discouraged from visiting their local hospital, wherever it is, because of this investigation. Hard-working maternity staff should know that this is a sincere and focused effort to support trusts across the country by giving them the tools to provide the best possible care. The Secretary of State has now agreed the final terms of reference with Baroness Amos, and these will be published today.

The 14 hospital trusts are:

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Oxford University Hospital

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust / Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

The investigation will start detailed work with the 14 trusts straight away, looking closely at the care for women, babies and families. There have already been a raft of reviews and reports, and Baroness Amos and her team will draw on these to create one clear, national set of actions to improve care across the country.

Importantly, the investigation will gather evidence directly from women and families, including fathers and non-birthing partners. This evidence will inform recommendations and result in an initial set of findings and recommendations by December 2025.

Baroness Amos will develop one clear set of recommendations for achieving consistently high-quality, safe maternity and neonatal care. The chair will be supported by a small team of expert advisers and will engage regularly with affected families throughout the investigation process.

This investigation is separate from the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, which the Secretary of State will chair, and will take forward the recommendations of the investigation, forming them into a national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care. These recommendations will supersede the multiple existing actions and recommendations already in place.

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