What is happening to maternity services in the UK?
NHS maternity care failings are under the spotlight once again. We look at everything currently happening across England and Wales to give you a full picture of what is being done to reveal the full extent of the failings and what changes can be made to prevent future failings.
The latest…
- A national investigation to cover 14 NHS trusts across England was launched by the Department of Health & Social Care in June 2025. Initial findings were published in December 2025 with a full report expected in spring 2026.
- In October 2025, after meeting with bereaved families, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a large-scale independent inquiry into maternity failings at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust over the last 15 years. The inquiry has yet to begin.
- The biggest review into maternity failings in NHS history is currently underway at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, run by senior midwife Donna Ockenden. Nearly 2,500 cases are being investigated, and the findings are expected in spring 2026.
- In July 2025, Welsh Health Secretary Jeremy Miles announced that a national assessment of all maternity and neo-natal services would also begin in Wales. It came after the publication of an inquiry into maternity services at Swansea Bay University Health Board, which revealed multiple failings in care.