Looking back at failure and forward to improvement: Will Wes Streeting’s proposed maternity plan lead to change?

Summary

At the June 2025 Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) World Congress, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting, called out the unacceptable state of current NHS maternity care. He also outlined key elements of a plan to improve.

Although mentioned again in the 10 year plan for health, the detail, for now, is limited. But two key elements are prominent. First, a rapid investigation into ten maternity units across England will take a system wide look at maternity and neonatal care, reporting by the end of 2025. As well as delivering “truth and accountability” for families affected by poor care, the investigation seeks to bring together lessons from past inquiries and create a single set of actions for national maternity improvement. Second, a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, comprising experts, families, and staff, will be established to drive improvement.

The announcement has been broadly well received by organisations representing those using and delivering maternity services, and the commitment to working with families is welcome. But will it work?

In this BMJ Opinion piece, authors consider Wes Streeting's proposed maternity plan and warn that we cannot afford another failed improvement effort.