The funding, which was made during a visit to the Royal Berkshire Hospital Maternity department yesterday, follows the health secretary's vow to prioritise maternity and neonatal services with her appointment this week.

Cooper said: ‘When I was a junior health minister 25 years ago, maternity services were one of my top priorities and they will be again today. I think the importance of good quality maternity services in our NHS has too often been underestimated.

‘So too has the traumatic impact for families when things go wrong. That's why we've had deeply distressing cases where families were let down. Every woman having a baby in the NHS should feel safe and looked after, and that has to be our mission.'

The investment is part of £187m announced for national improvements since April 2025 and a further £25m to help tackle the causes of maternal death, improve triage services and enhance bereavement facilities announced earlier this year.

The steps are part of the response to the damning findings of the Amos Review published last month, including the creation of the first ever maternity and neonatal commissioner.

Further measures taken since June 2024, include recruiting 2,000 more midwives, the introduction of a new programme to reduce brain injuries during labour and the extension of Martha's Rule to maternity and neonatal wards across England.