Baroness Amos has issued a critical assessment of the reasons behind the high number of maternal and infant deaths in NHS care, with a recurring pattern becoming evident.
In her national review of NHS maternity services, Baroness Amos emphasized a common issue identified in previous local reviews – mothers were often ignored when expressing concerns about their well-being. Instances where pregnant women phoned hospitals during labor to report issues like reduced fetal movement were frequently disregarded by midwives until it was too late.
A significant problem that persists is the lasting impact of a decade marked by austerity policies under the Tory government – notably, severe staff shortages. Understaffed wards were hesitant to admit women in the early stages of labor.
Upon assuming power in 2024, the Labour government inherited an NHS with one of the lowest ratios of staff and hospital beds to population size among European health systems. The strain on staffing levels has contributed to additional shortcomings highlighted in the Amos report, such as toxic work environments and instances of bullying.
While a series of local investigations over the past decade have brought these failings to light, it is now incumbent upon the Labour party to take action.
The recent inquiry conducted by leading midwife Donna Ockenden in Nottinghamshire uncovered 520 cases where mothers and babies suffered avoidable harm or death due to substandard care. Similar issues were revealed in a previous inquiry in Shropshire, as well as in reviews led by Dr. Bill Kirkup in East Kent in 2022 and Morecambe Bay in 2015.
Despite nearly 750 national recommendations stemming from these investigations, the same deficiencies persist within the NHS, resulting in maternal mortality rates reaching a 20-year peak.
In response to this crisis, the Labour government initiated the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in 2025, headed by Baroness Amos, to consolidate existing guidance and drive comprehensive reforms.
The political landscape in Britain has been marked by instability since the waning days of Conservative rule, a trend that continued as Labour’s popularity plummeted during Keir Starmer’s leadership. This upheaval saw six Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care appointed since 2020.
The crucial Amos report now rests with James Murray, the current health secretary following Wes Streeting’s recent resignation. However, Murray’s tenure in this position may be short-lived, as Andy Burnham, likely the incoming Prime Minister, is expected to appoint his chosen successor.
It is imperative that Burnham’s appointee upholds the commitment to implement the recommendations outlined in the Amos report, as underscored by Baroness Amos’s call for unwavering political determination to drive change.
Any leadership changes must not impede the essential reforms needed in NHS maternity care. Failure to address these issues promptly would dishonor the memory of the countless women and babies who have suffered irreversible harm or loss due to preventable NHS failures.