Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh welcomes announcement of national investigation into NHS maternity services in England

The announcement of a new national investigation into NHS maternity services has been welcomed and described as a “long-overdue step forward”.

This week, the health secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government would be investigating NHS maternity services across England, following many reports about failings in care.

Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh, who is the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Maternity, has welcomed the news as it could help deliver urgent reforms for bereaved families and campaigners.

“This is an important and long-overdue step towards understanding the scale of the failings and delivering the urgent reforms that families have been calling for,” she said.

“It’s been a long time coming, but now we have a Secretary of State who cares, listens, and is prepared to act.”

The Sherwood Forest MP, has been calling for a national investigation for over five years – since the birth of her own son – and has worked closely with affected families and campaigners to raise awareness about unsafe maternity care.

“We have heard harrowing accounts from families whose lives have been shattered by avoidable harm,” she said.

“Too many parents have experienced the unimaginable heartbreak of losing a baby or seeing a loved one suffer during childbirth, only to be met with silence, delay, or denial when they sought answers.

“Their devastation cannot be overstated. These are not isolated incidents, but systemic issues that demand urgent, transparent, and compassionate action.”

The investigation into maternity services, which will begin this summer and report by December 2025, will consists of two parts.

Firstly, there will be a rapid review of up to ten of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units, with a focus on providing answers and accountability for affected families as quickly as possible.

Second will be a wider, system-wide investigation bringing together the findings of previous inquiries to produce a single clear, national set of actions aimed at ensuring safe, high-quality, and compassionate care for every woman and baby.

The investigation will be co-produced with clinicians, experts, and most importantly parents.

The news follows a series of private meetings in the past week between the Secretary of State and families who have been harmed or bereaved by failings in maternity care.

The government will also establish a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary of State and made up of respected experts and bereaved families, to drive sustained improvement across the system.

Michelle Welsh added: “This investigation is the result of years of tireless campaigning by families who refused to be ignored, supported by organisations such as Sands, Delivering Better, Five X More, The Twins Trust, The Miscarriage Association and many more.

“Their bravery in the face of grief has brought us to this moment. Now it must lead to action. We need answers, accountability, and a clear pathway to lasting change.

“We owe that to every family who has suffered, and to every parent and baby who will rely on these services in the future. This must be a turning point.”