A damning report has exposed widespread failings in NHS maternity services in England, revealing that systemic racism and substandard care have put hundreds of women and babies at risk. The independent review, chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos, concludes that the current system is "not set up to deliver consistently safe, high-quality and compassionate care".
One of the key concerns highlighted in the report is the "unacceptable racism and discrimination embedded within the system", with Baroness Amos stating that the country "cannot continue like this". The review proposes eight key changes, including the appointment of a maternity commissioner to drive improvements in care standards.
The inquiry's findings echo those of a separate review into maternity care in Nottingham, which uncovered instances where hundreds of women and babies were harmed due to substandard care. Established last summer by the then-health secretary, Wes Streeting, the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation aimed to produce a report that would instigate widespread improvements across England.
The inquiry engaged with over 450 families and visited 12 NHS trusts to gather insights into necessary changes. A critical failing identified was a systemic unwillingness to listen to women and families, which frequently led to poor outcomes. The inquiry also pointed to a significant lack of consistent care standards, observing considerable variations across the health service.
Baroness Amos described the system as "fragmented, overly complex and too slow to learn and improve". Among the immediate actions urged on maternity units is a comprehensive overhaul of their triage services, which would involve dedicating midwives to answering calls and providing timely advice. The report states that implementing these changes could "save lives and reduce harm".
The inquiry stressed that racism and discrimination must be addressed as a critical safety issue, requiring urgent intervention. This includes collecting detailed data on unequal outcomes and escalating patterns to board level for investigation.