Overview

• The UK Health Ministry announced on June 23 a national inquiry aimed at uncovering the truth behind maternity scandals, holding responsible parties to account and driving urgent improvements in care and safety.
• The investigation will begin this summer with urgent reviews of services in hotspots such as Leeds, Shrewsbury and Telford before expanding to all 139 maternity units.
• A 2022 CQC report found that more than half of England’s 139 maternity units lacked adequate safety standards or required urgent improvements.
• Chronic underinvestment in the NHS and post–COVID-19 pressures have exacerbated longstanding weaknesses in maternity care over the past 15 years.
• Significant racial disparities are under scrutiny after data showed that black women face four times the risk of death in childbirth compared with white women.