Baroness Amos has released a scathing assessment of the reasons behind the high number of maternal and infant deaths within the NHS, with a recurring issue coming to light.
In her nationwide evaluation of NHS maternity services, she underscores a common trend seen in previous local assessments – a failure to heed the concerns of mothers when they sensed something was amiss. Expectant mothers reaching out to hospitals during labor to report issues like decreased fetal movement often faced dismissal by midwives until it was too late.
A significant shortcoming that persists is the lingering impact of years of Conservative austerity policies, particularly in terms of chronic understaffing. Wards operating with inadequate staff 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 staff and hospital bed ratios to population size compared to other European health systems. The strain on staffing levels contributes to various other deficiencies highlighted in the Amos report, including toxic work environments and bullying.
Following a series of local investigations over the past decade exposing recurring flaws, the responsibility now lies with the Labour party to take action.
Recently, an inquiry conducted by leading midwife Donna Ockenden in Nottinghamshire revealed that 520 mothers and babies suffered harm or death due to substandard care. Similar failings were previously uncovered in Shropshire by Ms. Ockenden, along with 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 issues persist within the NHS, with maternal mortality rates at a two-decade peak.
In response to this crisis, the Labour government initiated Baroness Amos’s National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in 2025 to consolidate existing guidance and push for comprehensive systemic improvements.
The period following the end of Conservative rule saw political upheaval, with Labour’s ratings declining under Keir Starmer. Since 2020, there have been six Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care.
The crucial Amos report now lands on the desk of James Murray, the current health secretary who assumed the role after the resignation of his predecessor, Wes Streeting. However, Murray’s tenure may be short-lived.
With Andy Burnham set to take over as Prime Minister, it is likely that he will appoint a new individual to the health secretary role. Murray had committed to unveiling an action plan based on the Amos report by December.
Burnham must ensure that his appointee continues this commitment. Baroness Amos emphasizes in her foreword the necessity for political determination to drive the required changes.
Any change in leadership should not hinder the essential reform of NHS maternity services. Failure to address these issues promptly would dishonor the memory of the countless women and babies who suffered avoidable harm within the NHS.
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