National investigation into NHS maternity services launched after families ‘gaslit’
A “rapid” national investigation into NHS maternity services has been launched by the government.
The announcement comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting met families who have lost babies and amid the ongoing investigations at some NHS trusts into maternity care failings.
The investigation in England is intended to provide truth to families suffering harm, as well as driving urgent improvements to care and safety, as part of efforts to ensure “no parent or baby is ever let down again”.
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The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) welcomed the government’s announcement and said maternity services were “at, or even beyond, breaking point”.
Last week, the NHS regulator said maternity and neonatal services at two Leeds hospitals had been rated inadequate over safety issues.
Mr Streeting, who was speaking at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) conference in London, apologised on behalf of the NHS for what families had been through and said it was “clear something is going wrong”.
He added: “For the past year, I have been meeting bereaved families from across the country who have lost babies or suffered serious harm during what should have been the most joyful time in their lives.
“What they have experienced is devastating – deeply painful stories of trauma, loss, and a lack of basic compassion – caused by failures in NHS maternity care that should never have happened.
“Their bravery in speaking out has made it clear: we must act – and we must act now.”
Mr Streeting said families have had to “fight for truth and justice” and had described being “ignored, gaslit, lied to, manipulated and damaged further by the inability for a trust to simply be honest with them that something has gone wrong”.
Wes Streeting speaking during the RCOG conference. Pic: PA
The investigation will consist of two parts.
The first will investigate up to 10 of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units, including Sussex, in the coming weeks to give affected families answers as quickly as possible, according to the Department of Health.
The second will be a “system-wide” look at maternity and neonatal care, uniting lessons from past inquiries to create one clear set of actions designed to improve NHS care.
A National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be chaired by Mr Streeting and made up of experts and bereaved families.
The investigation will begin this summer and report back by December.
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Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said: “This rapid national investigation must mark a line in the sand for maternity care – setting out one set of clear actions for NHS leaders to ensure high quality care for all.”
Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the RCOG, said: “The maternity workforce is on its knees, with many now leaving the profession.”
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RCM chief executive Gill Walton said: “Everyone involved in maternity services – the midwifery community, obstetricians, anaesthetists, sonographers and, of course, the women and families in their care – knows that maternity services are at, or even beyond, breaking point.
“This renewed focus and commitment by the health secretary to deliver change is welcome, and we will do everything we can to support him in doing so.”
Politics
Labour MPs table ‘reasoned amendment’ in attempt to halt welfare bill – with enough backers to defeat government
Moderate Labour MPs are planning a “reasoned amendment” to oppose the government’s disability benefit cuts, Sky News understands.
Nearly 100 Labour MPs are understood to have given their backing to this measure, which means the government could be defeated on its flagship welfare reforms.
MPs who have not yet gone public with their criticisms have signed the motion, calling for a delay to assess the impact of cuts to personal independence payments (PIP).
They express concerns, according to a draft seen by Sky News, about the government’s own figures showing 250,000 people could be pushed into poverty, and what the forecast is for how many may find employment.
The reasoned amendment was tabled by Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury select committee, with the support of 12 other select committee chairs.
Other senior figures, who are normally loyal to the party leadership, are understood to be spearheading the reasoned amendment, which would need to be selected by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle when MPs debate the legislation next week.
It is an attempt to force the government to water down the benefit changes, in advance of the vote. It is understood that 99 MPs had signed it by Monday evening.
The amendment emerged as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was addressing the weekly gathering of Labour MPs and peers to sell the reforms to PIP and universal credit. The government argues the welfare bill is rising “unsustainably”.
Opponents of the changes to sickness and disability benefits say opinion among Labour MPs has hardened since the draft legislation was published last week.
Dozens of MPs are said to have expressed concerns to party bosses, including junior ministers and aides. A party whip resigned her post last week to oppose the reforms.
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Government’s battle over welfare reforms
Some MPs, who have not yet spoken publicly, told Sky News the chances of the government losing the vote were “under-priced”.
It is understood that No 10 officials have told concerned MPs they would be “voting with Nigel Farage” and “will bring us all down” if they vote against the changes.
On Monday night, Ms Kendall told a meeting of Labour MPs that they must back the changes, saying the survival of the welfare state depended on it.
Some current PIP claimants are set to lose their benefits when they are reassessed from the end of next year.
Ms Kendall said: “There is no route to social justice based on greater benefit spending alone.
“The path to fairer society – one where everyone thrives, where people who can work get the support they need, and where we protect those who cannot – that is the path we seek to build with our reforms.
“Our plans are rooted in fairness – for those who need support and for taxpayers.
“They are about ensuring the welfare state survives, so there is always a safety net for those who need it.”
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The warfare v welfare dilemma
The first vote on the legislation is next week, and a defeat would be a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to cut the welfare bill, which the government say is becoming “unsustainable”.
Ms Kendall has been reassuring MPs that nine out of 10 PIP claimants will keep their benefits, and those who are most vulnerable will be protected.
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