National Maternity Safety Investigation: Who are the 14 NHS Trusts that will be the focus of rapid reviews
The Government has revealed the 14 NHS Hospital Trusts that will form the focus of a rapid, independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services across England.
This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to address widespread failings in maternity care.
The Trusts selected for review come after Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced in June that there would be a national review into maternity care.
The 14 Trusts that form the national maternity review
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- East Kent Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Selection criteria and scope
The Trusts were chosen based on a combination of factors, including official data around mortality rates, input from families who have suffered harm, geography as well as inequalities faced by Black and Asian women.
The review will examine leadership, safety and clinical standards, and the extent to which previous recommendations have been implemented. It will also assess how well Trusts have listened to women and families, and whether concerns have been acted upon in a timely and effective manner.
Those behind the review hope it will lead to meaningful change by identifying lessons learned and driving improvements that ensure high-quality and safe maternity and neonatal care across England.
A voice for families
As the leading medical negligence law firm in the country, we’ve represented hundreds of families affected by negligent maternity care.
High profile scandals stretching back decades from Morecambe Bay to failings at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals, East Kent Hospital Trust and more recently in Leeds have all pointed to widespread and deep-rooted problems nationally.
This announcement is bittersweet for many of our clients. They’re pleased that the Government is listening to their concerns but they remain devastated at what they’ve had to endure for the rapid review to get to this stage.
Behind every family we represent is a human story of how they’ve been left traumatised by maternity issues. That the number of Trusts being looked into is higher than originally anticipated shows the scale of the problems facing maternity services across the country.
I welcome the announcement and urge Baroness Amos’ and her team to ensure the voices of families are heard and that decisive action to improve maternity safety is recommended.
Sadly, many recommendations from previous reports and investigations haven’t been fully implemented missing crucial opportunities to improve patient safety and learn from mistakes - which is the best way to improve healthcare.
This review has to change that.
The investigation is expected to report its findings by the end of 2025.
Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting families affected by maternity care issues at our dedicated birth injuries section.
More on the review and the Trusts is available online.
