NCT reaction to the government's response to an independent review into maternity failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

“Dr Kirkup’s damning report and others before it, have been instrumental in highlighting multiple, repeated systemic failures in maternity services. We welcome this long-awaited government commitment to raise the standard of safety and quality of maternity care across England, but there cannot be room for delay. Urgent action is imperative, so families are safeguarded against further failures.  

“For many parents and their babies, access to safe, personalised and high-quality maternity care can be a postcode lottery and experiences of care can vary greatly by race, ethnicity, religion, or by socio-economical context. There must be an enduring focus to ensure inclusivity and compassion are at the heart of this work.  

“Whilst we are encouraged by the intention to better support doctors in training, this renewed pledge to improve maternity services cannot be sustainable without funding and a detailed implementation plan for building out the maternity workforce, investing in training, strengthening compassionate leadership and ensuring midwives and maternity staff are valued and retained.  

“Listening to women is a recurring recommendation in each of the maternity enquiries we’ve seen in recent years, so the absence of any explicit reference to include parents’ lived experiences in the Maternity and Neonatal Care National Oversight Group is deeply concerning.   

“We stand ready to support this work but must urge the government that the Group have strong representation from those accessing maternity services, so their voices are listened to, and their experiences acted upon.”