A government-commissioned national inquiry released on June 30, 2026, heavily criticized the NHS maternity system in England for failing to deliver consistently safe and compassionate care, prompting the government to pledge urgent reforms and a £41 million safety investment.
The review, led by Baroness Valerie Amos, uncovered widespread fragmentation, slow improvement rates, and deep-seated discrimination across the health service.
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The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation was initially established last summer by then-health secretary Wes Streeting following a series of high-profile maternity scandals.
Key Findings and Recommendations
Baroness Amos and her team evaluated the system by visiting 12 NHS trusts and hearing testimonies from more than 450 families, identifying a critical failure in listening to patients.
Among her eight major recommendations is the appointment of an independent maternity commissioner to hold the system accountable.
Baroness Valerie Amos criticized the embedded issues within the current healthcare framework. "Not set up to deliver consistently safe, high-quality and compassionate care," she said.
She emphasized the urgency of the situation regarding systemic discrimination and the need for immediate structural changes. "As a country...
we cannot continue like this," Amos added.
Amos also addressed requests for a broader legal proceeding to force hospital executives to testify, noting the significant time investment required.
"Statutory public inquiries take a very, very long time," she said.
While recognizing the perspective of affected relatives, she stated that the final course of action rests with other officials.
