01/06/2026
Over 100 Baby Loss, Maternity and Neonatal Charities, including ICP Support, Urge New Health Secretary to Protect Maternity Safety Momentum
Following the recent appointment of the Rt Hon James Murray MP as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a powerful coalition of over 100 leading charities, campaigners, and healthcare organisations has issued an open, urgent appeal to ensure that vital momentum in improving NHS maternity and neonatal services is not lost.
The open letter is backed by a major cross-sector network of prominent baby loss, maternity and neonatal support organisations, including Sands, Tommy’s, Bliss, the Birth Trauma Association, NCT, Child Bereavement UK, and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
The widespread mobilisation comes in response to the departure of former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, whose tenure saw significant initial progress including the launch of the landmark independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation led by Baroness Valerie Amos.
The coalition stresses that any delay or political disruption to the ongoing national review risks alienating bereaved and harmed families who have fought relentlessly to have their voices heard. The letter directly calls upon the incoming Health Secretary to publicly commit to the ongoing safety agenda and to act decisively on Baroness Amos’s upcoming recommendations.
Key Priorities Put Forward to the Government Include:
● Protect Independence: Fully protect the independence of Baroness Amos’s national investigation.
● Act Without Delay: Commit to implementing the review's final recommendations in full and without disruption.
● National Leadership: Provide continued national leadership on maternal and neonatal safety, including the Health Secretary maintaining their role as chair of the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.
● Targeted Reform: Accelerate systemic action to eliminate inequalities faced by Black and Asian families, fix chronic understaffing, and bridge gaps in maternity triage and safety systems.
