We respond to the national maternity review

In March 2015, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England announced a major review of maternity services as part of the NHS Five Year Forward View.

Led by Baroness Julia Cumberlege, the review sets out proposals that aim to make care safer and give women more control.

The National Maternity Review has now published its recommendations for how services should change over the next five years. The review states that maternity services in England must become safer, more personalised, kinder, professional and more family-friendly.

Responding to the review, our Acting National Director, Susan Robinson, said:

“Giving birth is one of life’s few planned instances of healthcare, and is something all services should be getting right.

“It is encouraging that Baroness Cumberlege’s Review shows that the quality and outcomes of maternity services have improved significantly over the past ten years. It has also found a good deal of regional variation, and consequently scope for improvement.

“Our conversations with people and local Healthwatch shows that over half of women who have used a maternity service want to give feedback to help improve services, yet two thirds don’t know how. It’s great to see the Review explore some of the ways that new and expectant mums can contribute to the learning process, including a range of new apps that will allow them to access information, book appointments and share their experiences.

“Crucially, when things do go wrong, the introduction of a common standard for serious investigations by the NHS would also provide a vital platform for learning in exceptional circumstances.

“Baroness Cumberlege’s proposal to create a system that is focused on personalised care, and involves women every step of the way, is vital so that all women can feel safe, cared for and listened to during and after labour.”