The UK will appoint its first maternity and neonatal commissioner

In response to Baroness Amos’s independent investigation, the UK government has announced plans to appoint the UK’s first maternity and neonatal commissioner as part of a package of reforms to improve maternity and neonatal care across England, which includes an additional £41m investment.

The new maternity and neonatal commissioner will provide independent leadership to drive change and rebuild trust, co-chairing the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce with the Secretary of State. The commissioner will also ensure the voices of women are heard by those at the heart of the system.

Baroness Amos examined the experiences of thousands of women, their families and staff, alongside local investigations of 12 trusts. Her report found a fragmented and overly complex system that is too slow to learn, with women and families not being listened to, a lack of accountability when things go wrong and racism and discrimination contributing to inequalities in care. Staff also reported feeling unheard.

A national action plan will be published in December 2026, setting out priority actions and long-term reforms to deliver safer, fairer care. It will be led by the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, bringing together families, clinicians and other experts with a focus on safety, equity and accountability.

Alongside the reforms, the government is investing a further £41 million to tackle urgent safety risks in maternity and neonatal facilities, building on the £145 million already committed since April 2025. The funding will address issues including fire safety, ventilation and outdated infrastructure to create safer environments for mothers and newborns.

Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said: "Too many women, babies and families have been harmed, bereaved or badly let down by maternity care, and too often women and families who raised concerns were not listened to.

"This has to change. Women and families must be taken seriously when they say something is wrong, and staff must feel able to speak up when they are worried about safety.

"The NHS is determined to address this quickly and we will work with the new maternity and neonatal commissioner to achieve this. NHS leaders are also coming together today to set out how immediate actions can be taken across all maternity and neonatal services in England to improve safety and the support and care offered to women and families."