Bliss response to announcement of rapid government investigation into maternity services

We hope this both provides families with the answers they deserve, as well as setting out a path towards consistent national improvements in care for all women, babies and families. 

The latest neonatal mortality data[i] continues to show an unacceptable variation across the country, as well as significant disparities between ethnic and socioeconomic groups that have increased in recent years.

We urge the Government to ensure that lessons are learned from previous investigations so that the interests of some of the NHS’s most vulnerable patients – newborn babies and their families – are rightfully put first.

Caroline Lee-Davey, Bliss Chief Executive said: “Whilst this announcement marks an important step forward in bringing to light past failings, it is crucial that the immediate actions proposed by the investigation put the needs of babies in NHS care now, and in the future, at the centre. 

“We look forward to seeing further detail of the plans, particularly what will be laid out to address improvements in neonatal care. This is an important opportunity to address some of the most urgent issues in neonatal care, particularly the need to improve the provision of multi-disciplinary staffing[ii] and to ensure that there is accommodation[iii] for parents to stay by their baby’s side in hospital. 

“Bliss stands ready to support this work to ensure that every baby born premature or sick has the best chance of survival and quality of life, and that longstanding inequalities in outcomes for these babies are addressed.”