Overview
- The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation has visited seven of 12 trusts, with a call for evidence in January, interim findings in February 2026 and a final report in spring.
- Early accounts describe poor basic care and unsafe practices, including bereaved women placed with newborns, ignored reports of reduced fetal movement, unclean wards and women left to bleed in bathrooms.
- Recurring themes include women not being listened to, lack of empathy, and discriminatory treatment of women of colour, working-class women, younger parents and those with mental health needs.
- The review will not conduct formal local performance assessments or assign individual blame, prompting families and campaign groups to renew calls for a statutory public inquiry and clearer accountability.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he will chair a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce in the new year to act on the review’s recommendations once they are issued.