National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation: Progress Update

Tuesday 9th December 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

This statement updates Members on the national maternity and neonatal investigation. In June 2025, I launched a rapid national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services. Baroness Amos was appointed to lead this investigation to examine the systemic causes of unacceptable care affecting women, babies, and families.

She and her team have made significant progress since then, having met with over 170 individual family members, including site visits where they have met further families and NHS staff to gather evidence and hear about their experiences of maternity and neonatal care. These local visits have included in Barking, Oxford, East Kent, Kings Lynn, Somerset and Bradford, and Gloucestershire.

Today is the first of three publications that are expected from the investigation. Baroness Amos’ update today sets out reflections and initial impressions since the investigation was launched of the work done and the picture that is starting to emerge. I want to recognise the extraordinary courage that bereaved and harmed families have shown in coming forward to share their experiences. What they have described is deeply distressing, and I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for them to relive these moments.

Baroness Amos highlights the significant challenges faced by women and families within maternity and neonatal care. She has also heard how fathers and non-birthing partners frequently feel unsupported, and how discrimination against women of colour, younger parents, and those with mental health challenges leads to poorer outcomes. Her reflections provide a valuable perspective of the issues and barriers that prevent the delivery of high-quality maternity and neonatal care.

We know that there is a diversity of views among families on the immediate action that needs to be taken. Families do not all agree, and we have a responsibility to listen to all of them. For example, some families want a full statutory public inquiry. Others are focused on systemic change that will prevent future harm. Some want individual case reviews and accountability. Others prioritise learning lessons quickly. I am absolutely committed to recognising this diversity of views and finding a way forward that delivers both accountability and urgent action.

As the investigation progresses, an eight-week call for evidence will begin in January 2026, and engagement will continue with national organisations and seldom-heard voices from communities facing health inequalities. This will be brought together by the investigation to build one set of national recommendations to improve the safety and experience of maternity and neonatal care.

Baroness Amos will deliver two further publications next year. The initial findings will come in February 2026, and a final report and recommendations are expected in spring 2026.

While there is still much to be done, today’s update is a key step forward in improving maternity and neonatal care, and families’ experiences. We are setting up the national maternity and neonatal taskforce early next year, which I will chair. It will develop and oversee the implementation of a new national action plan, based on the recommendations made in the national investigation’s final report. In the meantime, we are pressing on with important improvements to maternity safety, including a new early warning system to spot and tackle emerging safety concerns, and the roll-out of a programme to avoid brain injury in childbirth.

I would like to express my gratitude to Baroness Amos and her team for their dedication to the investigation and their work to date. The Government recognise the urgency of the concerns raised, and I would like to thank the bereaved and harmed families for their courage and bravery in sharing their experiences with the investigation.

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