The final report and recommendations from the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation led by Baroness Amos have been released (30.6.26). We commented on the interim report in February 2026 Children can claim damages for ‘lost years’ caused by medical negligence | Ward & Rider
The investigation reviewed 12 NHS Trusts to identify systemic issues in maternity and neonatal services across England
Overall Findings
The report highlights serious, widespread problems in maternity and neonatal care, alongside barriers to improvement. It proposes:
- Eight national recommendations aimed at long-term systemic and cultural change
- Additional immediate actions to improve safety, patient experience, and staff working conditions
Across all Trusts, consistent themes were identified:
- Women not being listened to
Patients and families often felt dismissed and excluded from decisions. - Staffing shortages
Insufficient staff relative to demand led to heavy workloads and reduced continuity of care. - Demand vs capacity pressures
Increasingly complex cases and high demand caused delays, overcrowding, and care decisions driven by logistics rather than clinical need. - Weak leadership and governance
Senior leaders were aware of problems but often lacked the capability to implement effective change. - Poor responses when things go wrong
Families reported defensive reactions, delayed investigations, and inadequate or insincere apologies. - Inequalities in care
Outcomes and experiences varied based on ethnicity, socioeconomic background, language, disability, and gender. - Inadequate facilities (estates)
Environments were sometimes not fit for purpose, lacking privacy and suitable space. - Fragmented IT systems
Poor interoperability created patient safety risks and increased administrative burden on staff.
The report found that the problems are systemic, not isolated, affecting multiple Trusts across England. This is shameful.
Sadly, this is no surprise to those of us who have worked for mothers and babies who have been negligently injured, leading to compensation.
Not all problems are the result of clinical or medical negligence. However, some are and so if you feel that you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of medical negligence then please contact us if you wish to discuss your potential claim for compensation.
Our expert Medical Negligence team consists of dedicated specialists with many years of experience in bringing successful claims for medical negligence for those who have suffered negligently caused injuries.
We provide an initial free, defined, no obligation, review of your circumstances to see whether there may be grounds for a claim.
Dr Darren Conway PhD[2] is a Solicitor in our Medical Negligence department[3] here at Ward & Rider, specialising in helping those who have suffered an avoidable injury in a medical setting.
If you want to find out more and see how Ward & Rider could help you, click here[4]
Or email us at us enquiry@wardrider.co.uk
Or call us on 0800 316 5887
For more information regarding the NHS complaints process, please click HERE[5].
This article does not constitute legal advice and you should contact us directly if you are facing a similar situation.
[1] Final Reports – National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
[2] Dr Darren Conway PhD | Medical Negligence Lawyer at Ward & Rider
[3] Medical Negligence Lawyers and Solicitors | Ward & Rider Solicitors
[4] Contact Ward & Rider Solicitors
[5] NHS England » Feedback and complaints about NHS services
