The state of NHS maternity services is a national concern and the government has announced a plan of action. In a move that will resonate with many families, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a rapid investigation into 10  of England’s worst-performing maternity units, alongside a broader review of systemic failings.
This follows the 2024 Birth Trauma Inquiry which was one of the most sobering reports on NHS care in recent years.
Based on over 1,300 testimonies from women and health professionals, it concluded that traumatic births are not rare exceptions, but common events. Around one in three women now describe their birth experience as traumatic. Each year, as many as 30,000 mothers develop post-traumatic stress disorder after giving birth.
The report uncovered:
- 694 emergency caesareans, many of them unplanned and inadequately explained
- 378 cases involving forceps delivery
- 106 third-degree perineal tears and 41 fourth-degree tears
- Repeated failures to obtain informed consent before procedures
- Poor or missing pain relief in labour
- A consistent theme of women feeling dismissed, ignored or blamed when things went wrong
Behind each statistic is a person, a mother who felt abandoned, a baby with preventable injuries and a family searching for answers.
At Tees, we see the reality behind these figures. We work with families affected by poor maternity care, many of whom come to us not just seeking compensation but seeking answers. They want truth, accountability, and reassurance that lessons will be learned.
The stories we hear reflect the national picture, from missed diagnoses and failure to escalate concerns, to serious injuries and hospitals failing to meet their legal duty of candour. For some families, the outcome is a child with lifelong care needs. For others, it is the grief of losing a baby. For many, the trauma is emotional and enduring with an ongoing loss of trust.
Tees has long championed the need for safe, respectful and accountable maternity care. We’ve spoken publicly on these issues, highlighting how avoidable harm can occur during labour and delivery, and how some mothers face discrimination during pregnancy and maternity leave.
We welcome this inquiry and hope it helps deliver the national cultural change that is so clearly needed. That means listening to experiences, rebuilding trust in maternity care, and ensuring that when things go wrong, families are supported, not silenced.
Tees is here to support people through these moments. If you have questions about the care you or your baby received, we’re here to listen and help.
