A highly respected inquiry into the safety of maternity services in England has been marred by claims that key criticism was quietly removed from the final report. The allegations centre on the 'normal birth drive', a concept which advocates for vaginal deliveries without medical intervention – a practice previously endorsed by organisations like the Royal College of Midwives until 2017.
Dr Bill Kirkup, who led his own inquiries into maternity failings in Morecambe Bay and East Kent, has accused investigators of withholding evidence that this approach continued to pose a risk. According to Dr Kirkup, he was shown data suggesting that some maternity units still prioritised 'normal birth at all costs', potentially leaving women without the medical attention they needed or delaying access to caesarean sections.
It's understood that this critical version of the report had been endorsed by a large number of people but was removed just eight days before its official publication. Dr Kirkup has warned that concealing such concerns could put patient safety at risk, sparking fresh debate about practices within NHS maternity care – including the previously recommended restriction on caesarean sections, only dropped in 2022.
Baroness Amos, who led the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation report, declined to comment on Dr Kirkup's claims. Meanwhile, James Titcombe – a campaigning father who lost his son due to substandard care – expressed deep concern, describing these events as 'profound questions' about the integrity of the review process.