Wes Streeting announces investigation into NHS maternity services | NHS

The Secretary of Health, Wes Street, announced the launch of a national survey of the NHS maternity services.

The new rapid survey is intended to provide the truth to families who are under damage, as well as to cause urgent improvements to care and security.

This occurs after streetting met families who had lost babies and in the midst of current surveys in certain NHS trustees in poor maternity care.

In a statement, the Secretary of Health said: “During the last year, I met with bereaved families from all over the country who lost babies or suffered serious damages during what should have been the happiest moment of their lives.

“What they experienced is devastating – deeply painful stories of trauma, loss and a lack of basic compassion – caused by failures in NHS maternity care which should never have occurred. Their bravery in speech was clearly: we must act – and we must act now.

“I know that no one wants better for women and babies than the thousands of midwives of the NHS, obstetricians, maternity and neonatal staff, and that the vast majority of births are safe and without incident, but it is clear that something is wrong.

“This is why I have ordered a rapid national survey to make sure that these families get the truth and the responsibility they deserve, and that no parent or baby is disappointed again. I want the staff to come with us on this subject, to improve things for everyone.

“We also take immediate measures to keep the faulty services to report and give the staff the tools they need to provide the kind, safe and respectful care that each family deserves.

“Maternity care should be the decisive test by which this government is judged on patient safety, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that no family must suffer again.”