Calling for answers in the maternity investigation into 14 hospital trusts

The 14 hospital trusts involved in a national maternity investigation have been named as the Government moves to improve care for women and babies.

In June 2025 the Government announced an “urgent” nationwide investigation into maternity and neonatal services following a number of scandals across the country.

It has now named the hospitals it will look into to gather evidence and make its recommendations, with the hope of introducing clear, standardised policies across the country to better protect families.

The national maternity investigation

There have been several investigations into maternity and neonatal care over recent years. All have returned stark findings of underperforming trusts, and devastating testimonials from affected women and families. Many recommendations have been made, but very little has been done to effect real change.

This evaluation promises to be independent and rapid, and, unlike the other investigations, this one is nationwide. Its aims are clear:

• To understand the experiences of affected women and families
• To identify lessons learned
• To drive quality and safety improvements for maternity and neonatal care

Trusts named

On 15 September the Government named the 14 hospital trusts to be reviewed, chosen based on patient surveys and MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality rates, among other factors.

There has also been a specific emphasis on ensuring a varied mix of trusts.

Of the 14 chosen, some have already had investigations and recommendations made – Shrewsbury and Telford, East Kent Hospitals and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay. Learnings and recommendations from these previous investigations will be incorporated in this new inquiry.

It will be interesting to see what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations made at each of these trusts. We’ve been following these hospital trusts for a while and have written about previous investigations here.

The 14 trusts making up the investigation are:

• 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
• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

What next?

Baroness Amos is leading the investigation and the scope has now been agreed with the Health and Social Care Secretary. The investigation will include:

• Understanding the lived experiences of families
• Reviewing the quality and safety of services
• Identifying the drivers and impact of inequalities
• Identifying barriers to making improvements.

What’s needed?

These are big issues which are multifactorial and will require input and backing at all levels.

Following its conclusion, the target is for one clear set of national recommendations to achieve consistently high-quality, safe maternity and neonatal care.

Clarity and simplicity are key. Too often we see trusts having multiple guidelines which vary from trust to trust and which can be at odds with NICE recommendations.

The Government has set a timescale for interim recommendations to be delivered in December 2025. Speed is a key goal for this investigation and so far it seems to be moving quickly. Momentum needs to be maintained for the benefit of the families involved – because we desperately need to see some real change, and I am hopeful the work done so far bodes well for a rapid but thorough investigation.