The government has now announced the membership of the new National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, which will be chaired by Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to drive improvement in NHS maternity and neonatal care.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says the Taskforce “will tackle deep-rooted inequalities and deliver urgent action on the recommendations of the independent national investigation into maternity and neonatal services in England, led by Baroness Amos.”
The Taskforce’s expert panel will have 17 members, including families, the Chief Nursing Officer for England, the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, campaigners and academics who the government says collectively have the expertise and lived experience to deliver improvements in maternity and neonatal care across England.
The government has said that the recommendations of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, which are due to be published in June 2026, will be acted upon by the Taskforce and that its membership “may be further refined to ensure it is best equipped to achieve and act on the recommendations from Baroness Amos.”
DHSC has confirmed that £11 million will be invested so trusts can improve maternity triage services, including purchasing new equipment and repurposing existing NHS spaces and facilities. There will also be £9 million funding across 40 trusts to enhance bereavement facilities and £5 million to support the roll out of best practice to prevent maternal death.
It appears that, taken together, the recommendations of the National maternity and Neonatal Investigation and the work of the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will provide a significant opportunity to improve maternity and neonatal services, reducing harm to babies, mothers and families.
