Nationwide review of maternity and neonatal services highlights serious issues
A new report by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has identified a plethora of issues with the UK’s maternity and neonatal services, providing guidance for the government as part of its ongoing national investigation.
Key area of focus include problems associated with staff training and overly complex maternity and neonatal systems, as well as lack of learning from past problems. Both the national frameworks and local governance arrangements need improvements, HSSIB states, adding that it is publishing the report to “assist the national investigation announced by the Secretary of State”.
High-profile failings
In June 2025, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a national investigation into maternity and neonatal services.
This came in response to an abundance of performance lapses in maternity and neonatal services at several NHS Trusts in recent years, including high-profile failings such as those outlined in the Ockenden Report, which found that 201 babies and nine mothers could have survived if Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust had provided better care.
What’s in the HSSIB report?
In that context, the HSSIB comes with four key recommendations for further investigation:
- The national structures responsible for providing direction and oversight for maternity services
- Local governance arrangements for NHS maternity services
- The standards and approach of local investigations when things go wrong
- Education, training and professional standards for clinicians providing maternity and neonatal services.
The report was produced using evidence from 35 safety concerns submitted to HSSIB through its web portal between October 2023 and June 2025, as well as in 17 stakeholder interviews with individuals and representatives from interested organisations. Its findings are consistent with what the medical negligence team at Attwaters Solicitors has seen across NHS Trusts for many years.
More waiting for families
The new HSSIB report is part of a wider review of maternity services, with the government’s investigation due to conclude at the end of 2025. As such, the families of those affected will have to wait longer for further answers – and to see improvements introduced systematically into NHS Trusts.
At Attwaters Solicitors, we understand the devastating and lifelong impact of mistakes in maternity care and neonatal services. In many cases, making a medical negligence is about correcting standards such that no other family has to suffer the pain of seeing a loved one endure poor maternity care; our empathetic and passionate team of legal experts understands the stress and will support you every step of the way.
Get in touch
We have extensive experience of representing families at inquests and settling negligence claims against NHS Trusts for birth injuries and fatalities. If you need support with medical negligence relating to failings in maternity or neonatal care, contact our specialist medical negligence team for a free consultation.
