Every year, thousands of families in the UK walk into maternity units trusting that the care they receive will be safe, compassionate, and competent. For millions, that trust is upheld. For far too many others, it tragically is not.
Over recent years, a growing body of evidence and lived experience has exposed systemic weaknesses in maternity services, from inconsistent standards of care to a lack of support after traumatic birth experiences. This is not a statistic. These are real women, partners and families whose lives have changed permanently. It is an issue that matters to all of us who care about clinical safety, dignity, and justice in healthcare.
The call for systemic reform
Earlier this year, Louise Thompson, known to many as a public figure, spoke about her own maternity experience and why it has driven her to campaign for change. After suffering life-threatening complications during the birth of her son, she described ongoing health challenges and post-traumatic stress that continue to affect her and her family. Her message was simple: women need to be listened to, and the system needs accountability and leadership that puts safety first at every stage of pregnancy and birth.
Louise, and former MP Theo Clarke, launched a petition calling for a Maternity Commissioner to be appointed with responsibility for overseeing maternity services and driving the implementation of a National Maternity Strategy. The petition has now surpassed 135,000 signatures, which means parliament must consider debating the issue formally.
What the Petition proposes
The petition proposes that:
- a Maternity Commissioner should be appointed to provide visible, consistent leadership across the maternity care pathway.
- this role would help drive the implementation of recommendations from independent inquiries and ensure that they translate into real-world improvements for women and babies.
- a National Maternity Strategy should be put in place, giving clinicians and services a clear, up-to-date framework to follow.
- care should be safe and compassionate for every parent, regardless of where they give birth or who they are.
This is not about pointing fingers at individual clinicians. Many dedicated professionals work tirelessly to support families every day. The issue, as countless women and families have shared from their own lived experiences, is systemic: including inconsistent care standards and a lack of clear accountability - leaving too many families feeling unheard and unsupported.
Why this Petition matters
The call for a Maternity Commissioner is meaningful in several ways:
- Accountability: when care standards vary widely, families need robust mechanisms to ensure problems are identified and addressed. A commissioner role could elevate oversight and reduce variation in care quality.
- Prevention: by championing consistent application of best-practice recommendations, the focus will be on preventing harm in the first place.
- Visibility of voices: many families who live with long-term physical and emotional consequences after traumatic births have felt marginalised. System-level change acknowledges their experiences and gives them a platform that can influence policy and practice.
- Professional improvement: for clinicians and healthcare leaders, a clear national strategy supports consistent training, better pathways of care, and shared accountability. It enables standards to be measured and improved in a transparent way.
Looking ahead
The government has commissioned an independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services, with a national taskforce working on safety and quality improvements. That work is important and welcomed. The petition’s call for a Maternity Commissioner does not seek to undermine that progress. It aims to ensure that improvements are sustained, coordinated, and held to account over time, rather than dependent on short-term initiatives.
The government’s response to the petition provided on 28 January 2026 was that there are no current plans to appoint a Maternity Commissioner pending the outcome of the independent investigation currently underway. The final report and recommendations are anticipated in spring 2026. A date for the petition to be debated is awaited.
Systemic change in healthcare often starts with stories. When those stories resonate with enough people and connect to clear, practical recommendations, they can reach policymakers and help shift the conversation from isolated frustration to collective action. This campaign reflects that dynamic.
As more voices join the discussion, the opportunity to improve safety and care for future generations becomes stronger.
Quote from Hannah Carr, Legal Director and Specialist Medical Negligence from MDS, said “Improving outcomes for parents starts with believing and amplifying their voices. When lived experiences are taken seriously and acted on, they become a catalyst for safer maternity care and meaningful, lasting change. The importance of this petition lies in its ability to amplify voices again at a time when the government is working to provide safer maternity care. ”
