Government appoints Baroness to lead maternity and neonatal care inquiry

The government has announced the appointment of Baroness Valerie Amos to lead an independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care.

Baroness Amos, a previous UK Government minister and senior official at the United Nations, has been selected by health and social care secretary Wes Streeting to lead the inquiry which will examine maternity and neonatal services across England following a series of care scandals.

The government said the appointment of Baroness Amos, who is also a master of University College, Oxford, followed feedback from bereaved families who ‘expressed a preference for someone with distance from the NHS who is able to bring a fresh pair of eyes to the role’.

Mr Streeting has been meeting with bereaved and harmed families that have been let down by poor maternity and neonatal care across the country.

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The investigation was first announced in June and at the time was described as a ‘rapid’ national inquiry to urgently look at the worst-performing services in the country, alongside the maternity system as a whole.

Baroness Amos will work alongside a team of expert advisors, who will be selected following further engagement with families.

Mr Streeting said: ‘I have been appalled by the many harrowing stories I’ve heard from mothers and fathers let down by the NHS.

‘Families asked for fresh eyes, independence and compassion – and that’s why I’ve appointed Baroness Amos.

‘Valerie has an outstanding record of leadership and driving change – nationally and internationally.

‘She will work closely with families to uncover the truth, confront problems and drive the improvements needed so every woman and baby receives safe, high-quality care.’

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Baroness Amos was previously Labour’s secretary of state for international development, as well as parliamentary under-secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Lord President of the Council and leader of the House of Lords.

Baroness Amos said: ‘I will carry the weight of the loss suffered by families with me throughout this investigation.

‘I hope that we will be able to provide the answers that families are seeking and support the NHS in identifying areas of care requiring urgent reform.’

The investigation aims to look at ‘up to 10’ specific services in the country, as well as reviewing the maternity and neonatal system as a whole.

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It will begin its work this summer and produce an initial set of national recommendations by December 2025.

Baroness Amos and her team will decide the 10 maternity and neonatal units covered by the inquiry, alongside the terms of reference of the investigation, which are being developed with the families who have experiences of maternity and neonatal care, including those in Leeds, Sussex, Nottingham and more.