National maternity investigation launched into fourteen NHS Trusts

In an important development for maternity and neonatal care in England, the government has announced that 14 NHS hospital trusts are now the focus of a new national investigation into standards of care. The independent review, which will be chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos, comes after widespread concerns about the safety of mothers and babies in some trusts and forms part of a rapid review of maternity care in England, announced in June.

The government’s full announcement from 15 September can be found here, including a list of the trusts under investigation: 14 NHS trusts the focus of national maternity investigation – GOV.U

Why this investigation matters

There have been repeated warnings about poor standards in maternity units across the country, with numerous cases of avoidable deaths and serious injuries reported. With 14 trusts now identified for further scrutiny, it highlights how widespread the concerns are.

The purpose of the investigation is to:

Review a range of maternity and neonatal services across the entire maternity system
Identify systemic failings that may put mothers and babies at risk
Focus on understanding the experiences of affected women and families
Examine factors driving inequalities in care
Identify barriers to making improvements
Ensure lessons are learned so that tragedies are not repeated.

At the conclusion of the review, Baroness Amos will present a single set of national recommendations aimed at ensuring safe, consistent and high‑quality maternity and neonatal care across England. An interim report is expected in December 2025, followed by a completed report in Spring 2026.

Baroness Amos commented, “It is vital that the voices of mothers and families are at the heart of this investigation from the very beginning. Their experiences – including those of fathers and non-birthing partners – will guide our work and shape the national recommendations we will publish. We will pay particular attention to the inequalities faced by Black and Asian women and by families from marginalised groups, whose voices have too often been overlooked.”

She continued, “Our aims are to ensure the lived experiences of affected families are fully heard, to conduct and publish 14 local investigations of maternity and neonatal services, and to develop recommendations informed by these that will drive improvements across maternity and neonatal services nationwide.”

How negligence can occur in maternity care

Medical negligence in maternity and neonatal settings can arise in many ways, for example:

Failure to monitor labour properly, potentially leading to oxygen deprivation for the baby
Delays in recognising complications, such as pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage or foetal distress
Errors during delivery, including mismanaged caesarean sections or instrumental deliveries
Inadequate postnatal care, such as failure to treat jaundice or infections promptly.

Such errors can have lifelong consequences for both mothers and babies, affecting health, emotional wellbeing and quality of life.

What this means for families

For families affected, this announcement may understandably bring mixed emotions.

If you or your baby were treated at one of the trusts under investigation, or if you believe that you experienced negligent care during pregnancy, labour or the neonatal period, you may be wondering what your options are. Even while the investigation is ongoing, you are be entitled to seek legal advice and explore the possibility of a medical negligence claim.

At Attwaters Solicitors, our specialist Medical Negligence team has extensive experience supporting families affected by substandard maternity care. We approach these sensitive cases with compassion and work diligently to secure answers, accountability, and, where appropriate, compensation.

Get in touch

If you have concerns about the maternity or neonatal care you received, whether at one of the trusts named in the investigation or elsewhere, our dedicated team is here to guide you through the process and ensure your voice is heard.