Following her appointment in August, Baroness Amos has set out her Reflections and Initial Impressions after engagement with families and seven trusts, including meetings with staff and conversations with a wide range of different stakeholders.

The Baroness said ‘the scale of unacceptable care experienced by women and families across the country is extremely concerning'.

She added: ‘The challenges that staff are facing as they deliver maternity and neonatal services to women and families also concerns me.'

The investigation head reported a number of negative experiences relating to a lack of communication and not being listened to, a lack of support and ability to make informed choices, and discrimination based on different factors.

She also heard from staff about the pressures they face, distressing targeting on social media, as well as the impact of poor quality facilities and estates.

Baroness Amos said her engagement had been a ‘vital first step' towards developing a set of national recommendations which will shape the future of maternity and neonatal services across the country.

An online, eight-week Call for Evidence for families will be launched in January 2026. The investigation also wants to hear from maternity and neonatal which will be shared in a staff survey in the new year. 

Initial findings will be published in February 2026 with a final report and national recommendations following in spring 2026.

The recommendations will be turned into a National Action Plan by the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by health and social care secretary Wes Streeting.

Reaction

Lib Dem health spokesperson Helen Morgan said the state of maternity care was ‘nothing short of a national scandal.'

She added: ‘There must be no more delay. The Government must urgently take decisive steps to make maternity wards safe, including reversing their cuts to ring-fenced funding for improving maternity services and implement the actions from the Ockenden Report.'

Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England said: ‘Baroness Amos' independent investigation is a crucial step in driving meaningful change in maternity and neonatal care and we welcome her reflections and initial impressions.

‘Whilst we have dedicated teams working across the country to improve services, we must do more to ensure that every woman and baby receives the safe, compassionate care they deserve. We will continue to work with colleagues across the NHS to address the issues raised.

 

‘I want to reassure women and families that staff are continuing to work hard to provide the best possible care and want to do everything they can to support them – we would encourage them talk to their midwives and maternity teams if they have any concerns.'

Streeting said: ‘I ordered a national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services to make sure these families get the truth and accountability they deserve. This update from its chair Baroness Amos demonstrates that too many families have been let down, with devastating consequences.

‘I know that NHS staff are dedicated professionals who want the best for mothers and babies, and that the vast majority of births are safe, but the systemic failures causing preventable tragedies cannot be ignored.'