The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the Government’s invitation to help shape the new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce in England.
The taskforce, which will be chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, will turn the national maternity investigation’s recommendations into a national action plan.
Following the RCM’s recent letter to both the Secretary of State and Baroness Amos, Chair of the National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services, the Government has now invited the RCM to contribute its views on the proposed structure of the taskforce and its terms of reference.
Gill Walton, RCM Chief Executive, said:
“We are pleased the Government has asked us to help shape the taskforce from the outset. This means we can ensure midwifery expertise and frontline experience is heard at the highest level.
“Maternity services need action now and establishing the taskforce while the investigation continues is the right approach.”
The RCM has set out four priority areas for immediate action:
- Safety and quality of care – including appropriately staffed multidisciplinary teams, clear escalation protocols, investment in perinatal mental health services, and mandatory cultural competency training.
- Workforce planning and education – with clear career progression, protected learning time, flexible working, and robust oversight of midwifery education.
- Strong midwifery leadership – ensuring every Trust has a Director of Midwifery with board-level input and at least one consultant midwife working alongside clinical teams.
- NHS estates – investment in up-to-date maternity facilities and equipment that meet national standards.
Gill added:
“Morale among the midwifery community is at a low point after years of investigations without meaningful change. Midwives will bear significant responsibility for implementing whatever improvements this investigation identifies, so it’s right that they must be part of developing solutions from the start.
“This invitation is an important step forward but it’s just the beginning. We’ll now use this opportunity to push for an evidence-based approach to improvement which delivers the outcomes women, families and staff deserve.”
The investigation into maternity services was launched in June 2025 and was originally due to report initial findings by December 2025. However, earlier this month the Government announced the investigation had been delayed due to the impact of doctors’ strikes and is now not expected to conclude until next Spring at the earliest.
The RCM has found strong cross-party support for ensuring midwives’ voices shape the taskforce’s work. MPs and Peers have made this case directly to Baroness Amos.
