Lawyers “unsurprised” by CQC warning that poor NHS maternity care could become normalised without urgent action

The CQC report, based on inspections of 131 maternity units, revealed widespread concerns about safety and care quality, with almost half of the services rated as requiring improvement or inadequate.  

The quality of NHS maternity care risks becoming "normalised" unless urgent action is taken, according to the healthcare watchdog. 

This follows comments from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who described maternity care as "one of the biggest issues that keeps me awake at night." 

The CQC report highlighted significant failings in the safety of maternity services, with none of the inspected units achieving an outstanding rating for safety. This adds to the mounting concerns that shortcomings identified in high-profile investigations, such as the Ockenden Review and the inquiry into East Kent maternity services, are not isolated but rather systemic across NHS maternity care. 

Leigh Day’s lawyers, who have represented families affected by high-profile scandals across the country, have been raising concerns about these issues for years, highlighting the need for significant reform. 

Suzanne White, clinical negligence partner at Leigh Day, said: 

“The CQC's latest findings are sadly unsurprising. The litany of maternity scandals over the years has left us in this unacceptable situation, where poor quality maternity care is becoming alarmingly widespread.  

"As clinical negligence lawyers, we have been highlighting this deterioration in care for several years. What an appalling indictment of how women have been treated by maternity services over the past decade. Women come to us because they want to prevent others from enduring the dreadful care they have experienced, and we must deal with this as a matter of urgency. 

“The government must take hold of this issue and make it a national priority. It’s clear that without significant, targeted investment and a robust commitment to safety, these dangerous standards will continue to be normalised, putting even more mothers and babies at risk.” 

The CQC report emphasised several ongoing issues that contribute to substandard maternity care, including poorly managed incidents, delays in triage, lack of timely assessments, and inadequate facilities and equipment. With serious complications, such as postpartum haemorrhages, being poorly communicated to patients, the risks to women and their babies remain high. 

Despite individual examples of good care and committed staff, the CQC’s findings present a troubling picture of maternity services across the NHS. The report has called for "increased national action" and ring-fenced investment to address the shortfalls, a demand echoed by Leigh Day.