Streeting apologises to families for six-month delay on maternity plan

Wes Streeting has apologised to families harmed by poor maternity care for taking six months to get back to them, and claimed he is pressing NHS England for a “more comprehensive and stronger set of actions” to improve safety.

The health and social care secretary had previously met with a group of campaigners for improved standards in December. But in a letter to them this week he admitted: “It has taken far longer than anticipated to come back to you with concrete plans for the actions we will take….I also realise that the lack of any update may have inadvertently implied that it was not a priority for me. This had never been my intention.”

The letter, seen by HSJ, added: ”I was keen that they were sufficiently ambitious to reflect the scale of the challenge with maternity and neonatal care… I have asked NHS England to continue working up a more comprehensive and stronger set of actions that will deliver the change we need – and subject to your views would like to ask them to work directly with yourselves.”

The delay in contact since December has caused some disquiet among families affected by recent maternity scandals, who felt they had been promised swifter action. Some groups favour a public inquiry into maternity nationally – which Mr Streeting is thought unlikely to offer – while other families hope for a “maternity czar” to drive forward change. 

In his letter this week, the MP said “on behalf of the Department, I offer my sincere apologies” for the delay in his response and action, and asked to meet the families again to discuss his plans, which include a set of immediate actions as well as longer-term plans to tackle entrenched issues.

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Source: HSJ, 28 May 2025