STORY
The Government has announced that the UK’s first Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner will be appointed as part of reforms to improve safety, accountability and consistency in care. The announcement followed Baroness Amos’ independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services.
The commissioner will provide independent leadership, co-chair the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce with the Health Secretary and help ensure that women, babies and families are heard in decisions about care. Ministers said a National Action Plan would be published in December to set out longer-term reform.
The Government also announced £41 million of additional investment to address urgent safety risks in maternity and neonatal facilities, including fire safety, ventilation and outdated infrastructure. The move comes after repeated warnings about failures in maternity care and inequalities faced by women and families.