Maternity and neonatal services in England are failing too many families, according to an interim report from the government‑commissioned National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation led by Baroness Valerie Amos. The report cites persistent problems “at every stage” of care and concludes the system is “not working for women, babies and families, or for staff.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he will act on the final recommendations due this spring. (itv.com)
Amos structures her interim findings around six areas: capacity pressures, culture and leadership, racism and discrimination, weak responses and limited accountability when harm occurs, the condition of estates and equipment, and workforce constraints. These themes mirror issues identified across recent trust‑level inquiries and inspections. (itv.com)
Evidence‑gathering is substantial and ongoing. The investigation has so far received more than 8,000 submissions and Amos’s team has met hundreds of families; the public Call for Evidence remains open until 23:59 on 17 March 2026. The final report and national recommendations are scheduled for spring 2026. (newstatesman.com)
Accounts collected by the investigation describe a lack of transparency after adverse events, including families reporting altered or withheld records. Media summaries of the interim report also highlight allegations that some deaths were recorded as stillbirths, limiting inquests and scrutiny. These concerns sit alongside recurrent descriptions of undignified births, poor communication and delayed escalation. (theguardian.com)
The interim report sits within a wider pattern of trust‑level failings. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is among the 12 sites under local review; bereaved families linked to the ‘Truth for Our Babies’ group have campaigned for an independent investigation. New Statesman analysis of internal reports suggests at least 55 baby deaths at the trust between 2019 and 2023 might have been avoidable with better care. (gov.uk)
Individual cases continue to illustrate systemic weaknesses. Orlando Davis died aged 14 days in September 2021 after his mother developed undetected hyponatraemia during labour at Worthing Hospital; a senior coroner concluded neglect contributed to his death. The family has since called for wider scrutiny of the trust’s maternity care. (thetimes.co.uk)
Campaigners and some parliamentarians argue that a statutory, judge‑led inquiry is required. Labour MP Michelle Welsh is pushing ministers to adopt “big, bold” policies, including appointing a dedicated maternity commissioner to drive improvement and accountability. The government’s formal response to a live parliamentary petition indicates it does not currently plan to appoint a commissioner, pending Amos’s final recommendations. (nz.news.yahoo.com)
Streeting has committed to chair a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to convert the investigation’s recommendations into a national action plan. As of 26 February 2026, the taskforce has not been launched; the Department of Health and Social Care has said membership will be announced “shortly,” and recent reporting describes it as due to be established soon. (petition.parliament.uk)
Questions about accountability architecture remain central. While some families fear regulators are outside scope, the investigation’s published terms of reference state it will examine leadership, governance and accountability “at local, regional and national levels,” explicitly including the role of regulatory bodies and the potential role of coroners in late‑term stillbirths. (gov.uk)
System leaders now face immediate tasks. NHS trusts and integrated care boards should prepare for strengthened oversight, ensure access to complete contemporaneous records, and evidence learning from incidents. Professional bodies, including the Royal College of Midwives, have reiterated that safe staffing and targeted investment are prerequisites for sustainable improvement. With the Call for Evidence closing on 17 March and final recommendations due in spring, operational and policy teams have a short window to align local plans with the national action that will follow. (rcm.org.uk)