Amos interim review: England maternity care failing

Maternity services in England are letting too many families down, according to the interim review led by Baroness Valerie Amos. BBC News reports that more than 8,000 people have submitted evidence and the chair has met over 400 families. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he will act on the final recommendations, due in April 2026. (aol.com)

In straightforward terms, the review says problems appear at every stage of pregnancy and birth. Themes include unsafe staffing and capacity pressures, poor teamwork and breakdowns between midwives and obstetricians, structural racism and unequal outcomes, and a lack of compassion and openness when harm occurs. ITV News also highlights incomplete records, outdated IT and even leaky rooms that make safe care harder. The Royal College of Midwives notes that 748 recommendations have already been made in the past decade-yet change has been too slow. (itv.com)

We’re going to pause for a quick learning moment because this matters for civic accountability. A ‘review’ like Amos’s is not the same as a judge‑led statutory inquiry. When people argue for one or the other, they’re choosing tools that work in different ways and reach different kinds of truth.

A statutory public inquiry, set up under the Inquiries Act 2005, can compel witnesses and documents and usually takes evidence in public. A non‑statutory review cannot compel cooperation or take evidence on oath, but can move faster and use interviews and community sessions to build a picture; if cooperation fails, it can later be converted to a statutory footing. That’s why some bereaved families describe a statutory process as the ‘gold standard’ for accountability. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk)

Listening to women is a safety issue, not just good manners. In September 2021, Robyn and Jonny Davis’s son Orlando died at 14 days old after staff at Worthing Hospital failed to recognise that Robyn had developed hyponatraemia (dangerously low sodium) during labour; a coroner found neglect contributed to his death. Robyn has said that not being heard was central to what went wrong. (independent.co.uk)

Their campaign group, Truth for Our Babies, is pressing for an independent investigation at University Hospitals Sussex. The New Statesman’s analysis of the trust’s own internal reviews suggests at least 55 babies who died between 2019 and 2023 might have survived with better care-one reason families continue to ask for a statutory inquiry alongside system‑wide reform. (newstatesman.com)

Many parents welcome Baroness Amos’s national work but worry it will not examine regulators and system overseers. BBC News reports that families are urging ministers to go further than a high‑level, time‑limited review so that duty‑holders can be questioned in public and evidence can be compelled where necessary. (aol.com)

On the politics, Michelle Welsh, Labour MP for Sherwood Forest and a prominent voice on maternity safety, says this must lead to ‘big, bold’ policy and has floated a dedicated maternity commissioner to ensure follow‑through. She also chairs Parliament’s cross‑party Maternity APPG, keeping pressure on ministers. (aol.com)

Government process now has to catch up. When Wes Streeting appointed Baroness Amos in August 2025 he also promised a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to turn the findings into an action plan. As of 16 February 2026 ministers say membership is being finalised, with the first meeting due in early spring-a timetable families and midwives want to see nailed down. (gov.uk)

If you want to contribute, the investigation’s call for evidence is open until 11:59pm on 17 March 2026, with final recommendations expected in April. Parliament’s own briefing says a national plan should follow via the taskforce. For learners, watch for three things: transparent publication, safer‑staffing timelines, and a credible system for learning when things go wrong. (matneoinv.org.uk)