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The 14 hospital trusts under investigation as part of a “rapid review” into maternity and neonatal services have been named today.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, which was last week named as the 134th and worst-performing acute trust in the country, is among the group. The hospital has had major problems with its buildings because of structural weaknesses and the need for props to hold up ceilings.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, which came 125th in the newly published NHS league tables, also features, as do Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Oxford University Hospital, and University Hospitals of Leicester. University Hospitals Sussex, where police are investigating at least 90 deaths, has also been confirmed as under investigation.
Three trusts – Shrewsbury and Telford, East Kent Hospitals and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay – have been chosen where previous investigations have taken place. Officials said learnings from these will be incorporated in the new investigation.
Officials said the trusts were chosen for investigation based on a range of factors, including data and metrics, such as the CQC maternity patient survey and perinatal mortality rates, as well as criteria to determine a diverse mix of trusts, taking into account geography and patient diversity.
The investigation, led by Baroness Amos, was announced in June by Health Secretary Wes Streeting after the government said it inherited systemic problems in maternity and neonatal care dating back over 15 years.
Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said: “This independent investigation is a crucial step in driving meaningful change in maternity and neonatal care, and the diverse range of trusts selected – including where previous investigations have taken place to incorporate learnings– will provide valuable insight to help teams across the country improve care for women, babies and families.
“I want to reassure women and families that staff are continuing to work hard to provide the best possible care and want to do everything they can to support them – we would encourage them to talk to their midwives and maternity teams if they have any concerns.”
The 14 NHS trusts are:
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Oxford University Hospital
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
- Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust / Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Following its conclusion, Baroness Amos will deliver a set of national recommendations “to achieve consistently high-quality, safe maternity and neonatal care”, with interim recommendations made in December 2025, officials said. The investigation will run alongside a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce – set up and chaired by Streeting, which he said will keep up the momentum and deliver change.
The list has been published as the head of the doctors’ regulator will tell a conference today that harm to mothers and their babies is at risk of being normalised owing to a “toxic” culture of cover-up in the NHS.
Charles Massey, chief executive of the General Medical Council (GMC), will tell the Health Service Journal patient safety congress in Manchester that “something must have gone badly wrong” in workplaces when trainee doctors are fearful of speaking up. He suggested the “tribal” nature of medicine could mean doctors and other staff are pitted against each other, which may prevent people from raising their concerns or admitting when things go wrong.
“Everyone in this room will be aware of the scandals of recent years concerning maternity care,” Massey will say.
“This is one of the most high-risk and high-pressure areas of medicine. One where the consequences of things going wrong can be especially tragic and far-reaching, affecting both a mother and her baby, not to mention their wider family.”
GMC data shows that more than one in four (27 per cent) obstetrics and gynaecology trainees admit they have felt hesitant escalating a patient to a more senior medic – a higher proportion than in other areas of medicine. The speciality also has above-average rates of workload stress, bullying and doctors who feel unsupported by colleagues, according to GMC findings.
“These data suggest a situation where, too often, patient safety is falling victim to unhealthy culture,” Massey will say. “The unthinkable – harm to mothers and their babies – is at risk of being normalised. And toxic culture is in no small part to blame.”
Professor Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said it supported the investigation.
She said in a statement: “There is no doubt today’s announcement will create real anxiety among women, families and staff at the 14 trusts selected. It is vital that the review process now brings everyone together with compassion, a commitment to transparency and appropriate support.
“Too many women and babies are not getting the safe, compassionate care they deserve, and the maternity workforce is on its knees, with staff leaving the profession. The RCOG is committed to working with the government, our members and women to support the investigation and to rebuild a world-class maternity system.”
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