Maternity care failings 'much worse' than anticipated, says head of national review

"Baroness Amos, who is chairing a review into maternity care, said that what she has seen so far "has been much worse" than she'd anticipated. Some women had felt blamed for their baby's death, while others suffered from a lack of empathy, care or apology when things had gone wrong, with poor and black mothers often at the end of discriminatory services."

"Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who set up the review, said "the systemic failures causing preventable tragedies cannot be ignored". Streeting said the update from 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," he said."

"The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation is meant to draw up a series of national recommendations to improve maternity and neonatal services after previous inquiries had exposed the problems but not led to enough sustained improvements. The report from Baroness Amos - her reflections and initial impressions three months into the inquiry - highlight how ingrained poor care is. Speaking to the BBC, the former UN diplomat said that she recognised there was "scepticism" and "criticism" of her approach."

England's maternity services are experiencing hungry mothers, dirty wards, poor care, and staff receiving death threats in some units. Many women felt blamed for their baby's death and encountered lack of empathy, care, or apology, with poor and Black mothers facing discriminatory services. Baroness Amos, chairing a maternity review, found conditions worse than anticipated and noted ingrained poor care. Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned that systemic failures are causing preventable tragedies and pledged national recommendations from the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. Families repeatedly feel failed by the system, and previous inquiries have not produced sustained improvements.

Read at www.bbc.com