The UK government has launched a rapid investigation into maternity care targeting 14 NHS trusts
The UK Government has launched a rapid, independent investigation into 14 NHS trusts following serious concerns over maternity and neonatal care. The probe aims to identify systemic failures, improve safety standards, and ensure that mothers and newborns receive the highest quality care. With hospitals under intense scrutiny, this investigation could lead to significant changes in how maternity services are managed nationwide.
Baroness Amos launches national investigation into maternity and neonatal services
The 14 hospital trusts to be looked at as part of a rapid, independent, national investigation into maternity and neonatal services have been named today. The investigation, initially announced in June 2025, aimed to address systemic issues in maternity and neonatal care.
The investigation, led by Baroness Amos, actively called upon affected families to shape the draft terms of reference of the inquiry, giving them a significant role in the process.
The Terms of Reference were developed to focus on understanding the experiences of affected women and families, identifying lessons learned, and driving the improvements needed to ensure high-quality and safe maternity and neonatal care across England.
The investigation will look at a range of services across the entire maternity system, following independent reviews across multiple trusts that have revealed concerning failings. These include safety problems, instances of women’s voices being ignored, and toxic cultures that have been found to contribute to poor patient outcomes.
Following its completion, the investigation will produce a clear set of national recommendations to achieve consistently high-quality, safe maternity and neonatal care. These recommendations will be delivered in two phases, with the first set of interim recommendations to be delivered in December 2025, providing immediate actions for improvement.
What are the 14 NHS trusts facing scrutiny?
The 14 trusts have been chosen for investigation based on a range of factors. These include data and metrics, such as the CQC maternity patient survey and MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality rates, as well as criteria such as trust type, geographic coverage, and variation in case mix.
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- East Kent Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust / Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said: “This independent investigation is a crucial step in driving meaningful change in maternity and neonatal care, and the diverse range of trusts selected – including where previous investigations have taken place to incorporate learnings– will provide valuable insight to help teams across the country improve care for women, babies, and families.
I want to reassure women and families that our staff are continuing to work hard to provide the best possible care and are committed to doing everything they can to support them. We encourage them to talk to their midwives and maternity teams if they have any concerns.
The investigation will run in parallel with a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, set up and chaired by the Health and Social Care Secretary, comprising a panel of esteemed experts and families, to maintain momentum and deliver change. “
