NHS Resolution: A year in the Maternity Incentive Scheme 2024/25 (6 August 2025)

Summary

The Maternity Incentive Scheme (MIS) is a financial incentive program designed to enhance maternity safety within NHS Trusts. It rewards Trusts that can demonstrate they have implemented a set of core safety actions, ultimately aiming to improve the quality of care for women, families and newborns. This report from NHS Resolution provides an overview of the national results from year 6 of the MIS. 

Content

The report summarises its key points as follows:

• 120 Trusts submitted for MIS Year 6.
• MIS payments into the scheme ranged from £140k to £3.86 million.
• 102 Trusts achieved full compliance (10/10) after validation – the highest since the scheme began.
  • No Trusts were downgraded following external verification suggesting improved data integrity and/or supportive validation processes.
  • 18 Trusts were upgraded following external verification.
  • Trusts appear to have improved openness in self-declaration.
• Safety Action (SA) 8 (Multi-Professional Training) had the lowest compliance, often due to incomplete training coverage across all required staff groups. Challenges with anaesthetic and obstetric compliance.
• SA1 (Perinatal Mortality Review Tool [PMRT]) continued to be a challenge for some Trusts, with delays in completing factual questions and lack of evidence of multidisciplinary review within expected timeframes.
• SA2 (Maternity Services Data Set [MSDS] submission) achieved 100% compliance, reflecting strong engagement with national data requirements.
• All non-compliant Trusts in Year 6 submitted fully costed and sustainable safety improvement plans. Implementation will be overseen by Integrated Care Boards (ICB).
• Four appeals were submitted by Trusts in relation to their compliance outcomes.
  • One appeal was upheld, resulting in a change to the Trust’s compliance status.
  • Three were not upheld as the original decisions were found to be consistent with the standards and evidence.