Healthwatch Redbridge responds to ‘sobering’ Interim Report into Maternity and Neonatal Services led by Baroness Valerie Amos
The report identifies systemic factors currently undermining safety: capacity pressures, failing leadership cultures, structural racism, a lack of accountability when things go wrong, crumbling estates, and chronic workforce shortages. Baroness Amos describes a "patchwork" system where high-quality care exists alongside "traumatic and distressing" failures, often leaving families without transparency or basic support following adverse events.
As the only Healthwatch in the country to host and manage the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate (MNISA) role, Healthwatch Redbridge is at the forefront of supporting women and families who have experienced distress, adverse outcomes, and baby loss in maternity services in north east London.
The interim report highlights systemic failings that resonate deeply with the experiences shared by families in Redbridge and across North East London. Healthwatch Redbridge has long advocated for cultural change, having directly influenced the North East London Maternity Equity and Equality Strategy to address issues such as trauma-informed care and the poor provision of interpreting services.
Gita Malhotra, Chair of Healthwatch Redbridge, said:
Baroness Amos’s Interim Report makes for sobering and deeply distressing reading. It lays bare the discrimination, bias and racism that too many women and families continue to face in maternity services, particularly Black and Asian women, and women from deprived communities. These are not abstract findings or isolated statistics; they are real experiences of trauma, harm and loss. At Healthwatch Redbridge, we hear these accounts every day through our unique MNISA role. While we are proud of the work we have done to influence local maternity provision and strengthen advocacy for diverse communities, this report is a stark and urgent reminder that progress is far too slow. Change must come faster/accelerate, and it must happen now.
Dawn Hobson, Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate, said:
The interim findings from Baroness Amos indicate the need for system change within Maternity and Neonatal care. In collaboration with NHS England and NHS North East London Local Maternity and Neonatal System, Healthwatch Redbridge has been
pleased to host a pilot role of the Independent Senior Advocate. This role has been available to families who have sadly experienced an adverse outcome within their Maternity and Neonatal care. A central recommendation from this work with traumatised families is to embed family voice as a core safety function. For families facing language barriers there are additional concerns about inequality. These findings align to and are evidenced by many of the findings from Baroness Amos. At the close of the pilot, we look forward to the national recommendations and for these to improve the care for women and families at such a vulnerable and vital time in their lives.
Healthwatch Redbridge remains committed to ensuring that the voices of those most often overlooked are central to the redesign of maternity services. The organisation will continue to hold local NHS trusts to account, ensuring that the recommendations from this and previous reviews, including the Ockenden Review, are fully implemented to protect the safety and dignity of all women and families.
You can read the full report here.
