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Lichen sclerosus is a skin condition that causes itchy white patches, most commonly on the genitals. There's no cure, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms. It is though to affect 1 in 100 women. The Lichen Sclerosus Guide was awarded first place in the 'Communicating effectively with patients and families' category of the 2025 Picker Experience Network (PEN) Awards. The guide has been written by people with vulval lichen sclerosus and expert healthcare professionals and researchers from the University of Bristol, University of Nottingham, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Since its launch earlier this year, the guide has been viewed by over 25,000 people in more than 50 countries. The Lichen Sclerosus Guide led by Dr Sophie Rees and Dr Caroline Owen combines clinical expertise with lived experience of vulval lichen sclerosus, offering clear, accessible information through written content, videos, animations, and downloadable tools. It contains information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and support, and includes videos explaining what happens to the skin in lichen sclerosus, vulval anatomy and self-examination, and how to apply treatment to the vulva. The judging panel praised the guide for its inclusive, evidence-based approach to tackling stigma and improving health literacy. They commented that: “It empowers patients, supports clinicians and bridges gaps in care, making it a model for effective communication and partnership in healthcare.”

On the 23 June 2025 the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a rapid, national, independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services. This interim report reflects what families, staff and others have told the investigation team and what the latter has seen themselves. Women and families across England are still being asked to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal care through a public call for evidence which is open until the 17 March 2026. In the report’s foreword, Baroness Amos notes that the experiences described by women and people who have been pregnant, families and non-birthing partners in their December report have remained as consistent themes during our meetings across the country. She states that the investigation team have heard about families being disregarded and not listened to during pregnancy and labour, a lack of kindness and compassion, and reluctance on the part of trusts and professionals to admit mistakes and say sorry when things have gone wrong. This report seeks to set out the background and changing context in which maternity and neonatal care is provided. It also examines six factors that could be contributing to pressures on the maternity and neonatal system: Capacity pressures – the investigation have heard about capacity pressures at every stage of the maternity journey. They have also identified inconsistencies between individual units and in the birth choices available to women, sometimes as a result of these capacity pressures. Culture and leadership – the investigation have heard from many families of striking shortcomings relating to organisational culture, and they heard from staff of the challenges they face in sustaining and improving a compassionate culture. Racism and discrimination – throughout their investigation, they have heard about unacceptable racism and discrimination across the maternity and neonatal system. Poor responses and lack of accountability when things go wrong – families have described a lack of compassion in the aftermath of incidents that had resulted in harm, including birth trauma and baby loss. The investigation have repeatedly heard from women and families about a lack of transparency, clear communication and learning when things went wrong. The quality of estates - from their visits to the 12 NHS trusts, the investigation has seen maternity and neonatal services that are delivered in estates that are outdated and dilapidated, and estates which are new and modern. However, the report notes that a modern estate does not always equate to a high-quality service, for example, they have also seen examples of recently built estates which were misaligned with clinical and patient need. Workforce – the report notes that even in NHS trusts that have achieved full staffing according to Birthrate Plus, staff report that maternity units do not consistently feel safely staffed in practice, due to factors such as high turnover of staff and because the numbers include midwives who do not provide frontline care. They state that some women and families recognised that staff are often working beyond capacity and that staffing levels impact on the quality of care provided.

Baroness Amos is asking women and families across England to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal care through a public Call for Evidence. Responses to the Call for Evidence will be used to inform the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation’s findings and recommendations. The Call for Evidence is open for 8 weeks from 20 January until 17 March 2026. There are two Call for Evidence surveys available: One for women and people who have been pregnant to share their own experiences of maternity and neonatal services. One for other people to share their experiences supporting someone through pregnancy. This could include fathers, non-birthing partners, family members, friends, or other support people. You must be aged 16 and over to respond. If you are under 16, you must complete the Call for Evidence with somebody who is 16 or over. Follow the link below for more information.

Sandra Igwe MBE is the Founder and CEO of The Motherhood Group and a Topic leader for the hub. In this blog, she talks about The Motherhood Group’s involvement in a recent roundtable event to discuss the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.  A pivotal conversation on maternal health equity A recent roundtable at the House of Lords brought together leading voices in maternal health to discuss the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. Chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos, the gathering assembled dedicated organisations, changemakers, and advocates working to create a safer, fairer future for all mothers and families across the United Kingdom. Among those invited was The Motherhood Group, who contributed vital insights and evidence-based solutions to the discussion. The event highlighted the critical work being undertaken to address systemic failures in maternity care and the urgent need for comprehensive reform across England's healthcare system. Understanding the national investigation The national maternity and neonatal investigation is a UK-based review launched to examine the quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services across England. Led by Baroness Amos, it aims to identify how to reduce harm to mothers, babies, and families by focusing on a pattern of failings, such as ignored concerns and poor leadership. The investigation will review services at 14 specific NHS trusts and look at the entire system to produce national recommendations for improvement. This comprehensive approach represents a watershed moment in addressing maternal health inequalities. Rather than examining isolated incidents, the investigation takes a systemic view, recognising that patterns of poor care often stem from deeper organisational and cultural issues within healthcare settings. Why this matters now Inequalities within maternity and neonatal care remain one of the most pressing issues in the UK healthcare system. Black women are four times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than white women, and women from Asian backgrounds face twice the risk. These aren't just statistics, they represent real mothers, real families, and real lives that could be saved with systemic change. The roundtable discussion emphasised that investigation alone isn't enough. Action, advocacy, and sustained commitment to dismantling the barriers that create these disparities are essential. The focus on ignored concerns and poor leadership within the national investigation directly addresses two of the most common factors contributing to preventable maternal harm. Voices for change The roundtable brought together a diverse array of perspectives and expertise. From grassroots community organisations supporting mothers on the front lines, to policy experts analysing data and trends, to healthcare professionals committed to reforming practices from within - each voice added essential insight to the collective understanding of the challenges ahead. Among the invited participants was The Motherhood Group, who shared findings from their Black Maternal Health Report. Including the five clear steps for transformation: Community-led and culturally safe care Co-produced service standards with Black mothers Mandatory trauma-informed and culturally competent training Investment in grassroots and digital peer support Leadership and accountability across systems This contribution was particularly valuable, as the report offers evidence-based solutions to improve maternity care in the UK. By bringing research-backed recommendations directly into the conversation with policymakers and healthcare leaders, The Motherhood Group ensured that the voices and experiences of Black mothers remained central to discussions about reform. Baroness Amos's leadership created a space where difficult truths could be spoken and heard. Participants discussed not just the clinical aspects of care, but the social determinants of health, the impact of structural racism, communication barriers, and the importance of culturally competent care that respects and responds to diverse needs. The path forward The 14 NHS trusts under review represent an opportunity for deep, meaningful change. However, the lessons learned must extend far beyond these individual organisations. The national recommendations produced by this investigation have the potential to reshape maternity and neonatal care across the entire country. Events like this roundtable serve as vital catalysts for change, creating momentum and building networks of advocates who will ensure recommendations translate into real-world improvements. The real work happens in hospitals, clinics, and communities every single day - when healthcare providers listen to mothers' concerns without dismissal, when policies are designed with equity at their core, and when families are empowered as partners in their care. Moving from dialogue to action The inequalities discussed at the roundtable are solvable problems. The knowledge, expertise, and increasingly, the political will to make meaningful change exist. What's needed now is sustained commitment - from policymakers, healthcare institutions, and society as a whole - to prioritise maternal and neonatal health equity. Every mother deserves to feel safe, heard, and respected throughout their pregnancy and birth journey. Every family deserves to bring their baby home. This isn't an aspiration - it's a fundamental right. Until this is achieved for all families, regardless of background, the work continues. The House of Lords roundtable represented an important step forward in this journey, bringing together the voices, expertise, and commitment needed to ensure that the national investigation delivers lasting change for mothers and families across England. Related content The Motherhood Group: Black maternal mental health report UK (23 September 2025) Time for action: The Black Maternal Mental Health Report Campaigning for safety as a patient, family member or advocate Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures: Black maternal mental health (7 April 2025) Addressing critical gaps in Black maternal mental healthcare: a new partnership project is launched (interview with Sandra Igwe)

On the 23 June 2025 the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a rapid, national, independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services. In this report the investigation’s Chair, Baroness Amos, provides an update on its progress since the publication of its Terms of Reference in September 2025. She outlines the activities undertaken as part of the investigation to date and her initial reflections from engagement with families, staff, community organisations and Members of Parliament. The investigation's interim report, published on the 26 February 2026, can be found here. In her initial report, Baroness Amos highlights that the following set of issues have been raised with her consistently: A lack of communication and support from clinical teams and organisations. Women not being listened to or given the right information to make informed choices at critical moments of their care as risk profiles change. Women’s knowledge of their own bodies and important information essential to clinical decision making about their care, such as reduced fetal movement, sometimes being disregarded. Fathers and non-birthing partners feeling unsupported. The desire for a more holistic approach to care across a woman’s maternity and post-natal journey, with maternity and neonatal teams working together to maximise good outcomes for women, their babies and families. The impact of discrimination against women of colour, working class women, women with mental health challenges and younger parents leading to poorer outcomes. A lack of empathy, care or apology, both as part of clinical care and after things have gone wrong, with women feeling blamed and guilty; a lack of recognition from staff when care is not delivered to the correct standards. Lack of family engagement in reviews of care and feedback of review reports. An overly legalistic, adversarial approach when concerns or complaints are raised. The failure of regulatory bodies to protect vulnerable women and families and the perception of health professionals and organisations ‘marking their own homework’. Failure to address poor behaviour, including the use of inappropriate language when communicating with women, families and non-birthing partners. The length of time autopsy reports take to be produced, delaying families from being able to fully grieve for their children. Poor standards of basic care, such as lack of cleanliness, women and non-birthing partners not receiving meals, women not being helped to use the bathroom, and catheters not being checked or emptied. Women and families finding it difficult to access their medical notes (and notes being redacted or observations filled in at a later date). Birth plans not being read or followed, leading to women not being cared for in the way they wanted or had agreed, as well as having to repeat their wishes multiple times. Women and families being placed in inappropriate spaces after loss or harm, for example, being put on wards with newborns after they have experienced a loss. The impact of different philosophies around birth and pregnancy on women’s experience and ability to make informed choices. Having to work with multiple contacts when a baby dies, with issues arising from information not being shared sufficiently between different services. The lack of recognition of, and support for, the long-term impact that these negative and traumatic experiences of services can have on families, for example: family breakdown; long-term impacts on the mental health of women and families; support for raising children with lifelong disabilities; bereavement care; participation in reviews or investigations; joint planning of complex care; and the need for neonatal unit accommodation and transition care. Next steps In this document Baroness Amos states that the investigation will: launch a call for evidence in January 2026, which will be open for 8 weeks publish a further update in February 2026 on the initial findings of the investigation following the conclusion of site visits to hospital Trusts. following the conclusion of site visits, publish reports on the 12 local investigations of maternity and neonatal services in NHS Trusts. publish a final report in Spring 2026 which will include one set of national recommendations to improve safety and experience of maternity and neonatal care.