In the light of two recently-published hefty reports on the past and present functionality of the maternity and neonatal services, first in Nottingham and then across England, James Mackay, the Chief Executive of NHS England, has wasted no time in instructing local service chiefs (NHS Trust Boards) to take action.
These instructions given, the Taskforce (and its feeder Expert Reference Groups) are now supposed to get to work to produce a Comprehensive Reform Plan for the Maternity and Neonatal Services, building on the two reports, which has been promised for December 2026. They meet together for an initial face-to-face briefing on Tuesday July 7.
It is perhaps commendable that some swift action has been taken: it might be taken to signal serious intent against the backdrop of yet more information about the well-known scandal that is the operation of maternity services across England, and it is likely that many will accept these actions without question/ as a helpful step forward pending further work. “Something” is being done. We have called in “someone” (a new Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner) to help[1].
But just what does this early action say about the collaborative approach promised? What lessons can we learn from what has already been announced, in terms of what happens next? It’s also worth asking ourselves a very serious question: how have we got to the position where Trust Boards need to have it explained to them what the job of running a safe, personalised and equitable maternity service actually is? It’s also important to note that the maternity services are littered with decades of well-intentioned initiatives that - taken as a whole - sadly have the effect of making the whole system dysfunctional and ungovernable. These two points alone might be the lodestars that guide further deliberations.
AIMS has reviewed the immediate actions set out in James Mackay’s 10 point plan. We think that it is important to place our initial comments and queries on record. We will be looking out for others' views on these early actions, and consider them as we seek to support work going forward. For AIMS, it is incredibly important that priorities and policies are now developed in a highly professional, reasoned and collaborative manner, always looking for the evidence that new initiatives are likely to work in context, fit the longer-term direction of policy, take account of the needs of all stakeholders and improve the functionality of the whole system. In offering views on what many would assume is ‘a done deal’, we hope that we are providing useful feedback to all those who have been involved in the “development without consultation priority setting and policy approach” that has taken place in the last week.
This table sets out our initial comments and queries related to the 10 Point Plan. Please note that this document is being published in advance of our full consideration of the recent Ockenden and Amos Reports. We think carefully. We don’t rush to judge or to commend when important reviews are published. It takes time to form a considered view, drawing on the very considerable collective experience and expertise of our AIMS Helpline, Campaigns and wider Volunteering teams. We are disappointed to note at this point, however, that neither Report takes as its frame an explicit commitment to women's legal and human rights in pregnancy and childbirth[2] - an omission which prevents both reports being truly woman-centred in relation to maternity care.
Jo Dagustun
On behalf of the AIMS Campaigns Team
Jo Dagustun is the AIMS representative on the Charities and Third Sector Expert Reference Group, which is intended to support the Department of Health and Social Care Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce. Jo is also the AIMS member of the NHS England Maternity and Neonatal Stakeholder Council, previously known as the Maternity Transformation Stakeholder Council, originally set up to support the implementation of the previous National Maternity Review, Better Births.
[1] A commitment to appoint a Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner was announced by James Murray, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on June 30 2026.
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