This letter, originally signed by 160 harmed families, individuals and supporting organisations, was sent to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray, on 13 July 2026, calling for a statutory public inquiry into maternity and neonatal services in England.

The text of the letter has not been changed since it was submitted.

Read the Public Inquiry Letter at MaternitySPI.uk/letter.pdf

Read the accompanying briefing note at MaternitySPI.uk/briefing.pdf

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Dear Secretary of State,

We write to demand a statutory public inquiry into maternity and neonatal services.

This is now urgently required to build a full, shared understanding of the maternity and neonatal care system, while addressing gaps in knowledge, overturning misconceptions, settling disputed narratives, and giving victims truth, justice, and accountability.

A statutory public inquiry is the only process which can:

● Provide the full truth of what is happening in maternity and neonatal care, and explain why avoidable harm and deaths continue despite various other investigations and reviews over more than a decade;

● Not only observe the racism and inequalities that infest our maternity and neonatal services, but interrogate the causes of these and name them without fear or favour, and identify how to fix these injustices;

● Generate evidenced solutions that will deliver real change across the maternity and neonatal care system, ending the cycle of limited investigations and reviews that result in partial- or mis-diagnosis of failings and their causes, followed by recommendations that are either wrong, right but resisted, or simply unworkable in reality;

● Compel evidence and witnesses, ensuring that in pursuit of the truth no stone is left unturned and no person who has held a position of responsibility is able to hide evidence or dodge questioning;

● Provide a full and thorough analysis of as-yet untouched, uninvestigated parts of the maternity and neonatal system, including: regulators including CQC, GMC and NMC; local and national oversight and investigatory bodies including ICBs, NHS England and MNSI; education and training provision for midwives and doctors; the influence of the third sector and academia on policy and practice; and political decision making;

● Give voice to victims of failures in NHS maternity and neonatal care, including bereaved parents and families; children who have sustained brain and other injuries and the people who advocate for them; mothers who have sustained physical and psychological injuries; and fathers and non-birthing partners who have sustained psychological injuries;

● Give voice to staff who work or have worked in maternity and neonatal services who have been ignored, silenced, and/or bullied, and identify the processes, structures, and leaders who have failed not only patients but staff too;

● Generate a whole system analysis, looking at all factors and contributors to maternity and neonatal safety, or lack thereof, and how these factors interact, instead of the existing siloed approach; and

● Do all of the above through public hearings, providing essential transparency and accountability, and beginning the process of rebuilding trust.

This letter is signed by a range of individuals and organisations deeply concerned with and distressed by continuing failures in maternity and neonatal care. We have all concluded that a statutory public inquiry is essential to truly learn the lessons of the past and ensure that care is safe for every mother and every baby in the future.

Yours sincerely,

Emily Barley, Beatrice’s mummy

Ewa and Tom Hender, Mamus and Dad of Aubrey

Alice Topping and Pedro Jacob, Smokey’s parents

Katie Fowler and Robert Miller, parents to Abigail

Hannah and Simon Robotham, parents of Austin

Alex and Steve Barr, Marnie's parents

Fiona Winser-Ramm and Daniel Ramm, parents to Aliona

The Revd Charlotte Cheshire, harmed family from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Inquiry (Ordained Priest in the Diocese of Lichfield)

Sarah and Gary Andrews, Wynter’s parents

Phoebe and Jim Brooks, Jasper’s parents

Lauren Caulfield and Arron Kilburn, Grace’s parents

Sarah and Dr Jack Hawkins, Harriet’s parents

Leanne and Ben Pether, Leo's Mummy and Daddy

Susan and Donato Cacciacarro, Mum and Dad to Chiara

Chloe Vowels Lovett and Toby Lovett, mother and father to Esme

Hayley Taggart (harmed mum), mum to Olivia

Liz and Ant Charlton, Mum and Dad to Hazel Luna

Yann Trupiano and Kimberley Newark, father and mother to Olivia

Emmie Studenki and Ryan Parker, parents of baby Quinn

Carl Everson and Carly Wesson, parents of baby Ladybird

Lucia Ford-Ferrari, Mum to Freya

Roselle Mclaughlin, Mum to Seth

Stephanie Green, Mother of Alora

Kat Norton, mum to Alissa

Lucinda Watkinson, Mum to Benedict

Ria and Douglas Barr, Evelyn’s parents

Eileen McCarthy and Noel German, parents to Walter German

Chelsea Gowar and Oliver Thompson, parents to Bonnie Thompson

Charlene and Tony Collins, Alex’s Mummy and Daddy

Marie Hillyard-Adams and Peter Adams, Matilda's parents 💛

Venessa and Jon Oviasu, Imosé's mama and daddy

Mollie and Nicholas Sutton, mum and dad of Rupert

Nick Roper and Katie Morris, Parents of Ava Morris

Hannah Swinburn, Birth trauma and injury survivor

Daniela, Axel's Mum

Becca, Robins mummy

Kate, Mia Boulahlib's mummy

Gemma and Dean, Ronnie-roo's mummy and daddy

Laura and Michael, Henry's mummy and daddy

Melissa and Toby, Jacob's parents

Stephanie and Jack, Ivy's mummy and daddy

Seems and Amo, Abbie's mummy and daddy

Sophie and Josh, Mason's mummy and daddy

Lana and Ryan, Rosemary's mummy and daddy

Ellie and Ryan, Max's mummy and daddy

Lauren, Taylor's mummy

Tracy, Peanut’s mummy

Katie and Michael, Ralphie's mummy and daddy

Darren and Amber, Robyn's mum and dad

Natalie Dence, Olive Dench's mum

Eve, Liliana's mum

Marcella, Kade's mum

Carly and Martin, Zephyr's mum and dad.

Sarah Robinson and Ryan Lock, Parents of Ida Lock

Helen and Gareth Hammond, parents who experienced failings in maternity care

Beth Cooper, Mum to Felix

Sharon Luca-Chatha, The Luca Foundation

Rachel Coles, Birth Trauma Survivor

Gabriella Rye

Dr Lucy Spain

Bethany Martindale, bereaved mother to Grace born sleeping

Jemma Hall and Aaron Way, bereaved parents to Willow Wren Way 10.08.25

Sarah and Ryan Shephard, Olivia-Rose’s parents

Sophie and Dale Morgan, Mummy and Daddy of Dexter who died avoidably 2018

R Clements and M Procko, Harry’s parents

Charlotte and Robert Smith, Finley’s parents

Felicity Benyon, harmed mum

Meg Edmonds and Ben Brookes, Magnolia’s Parents

Catherine Roy, Harmed mum

Lucy Headland, Luca’s Mummy

Amelia and Leigh Crossland, Ophelie’s parents

Julie Keegan and Angus McLean, Mason's parents

Jesse Smalley and Nicky Gresswell, parents of Joseph-James

Bianca Chapman and Chris Khalfan, parents to Imiza Affia Khalfan, Neonatal death and harmed mother

Sarah and David, Junior's parents and harmed family

Joanne and Keith Young, parents of Edward, harmed child and harmed mum

Melissa Dale, mother to Clara

Jess and Josh Aldred, bereaved parents to Brooklyn

Katharine Bannister, victim of a traumatic birth (for mum and baby), and inadequate maternity care

Michelle and Christopher Barana, bereaved and harmed family of Ivy June Barana 19.01.26

Fran Heatley, bereaved mother of Beth

Leila Hobart, bereaved parent to Oscar

Lisa Kelly, bereaved mother of Daisy Grace Hughes

Sam and Joey Benstead-Wright, mummy and daddy of Blossom, tragically taken August 2024

Debbie and Richard Horner parents of Abbie Jayne Horner weighing 8lb 3oz, perfect in every way whose life was taken due to the negligence of hospital staff

Emily Stringer and Darryl Gwinnett, Caitlin’s parents

Marija Pantelic and Louis Pilard, Sasha’s parents

Hannah and Tim Taylor-Smith, Zachary’s parents

Jodie and Connor Pattison, parents of Theodore

Alexandra and Jack Penn, parents of Alfred

Kristina and Lee Pepper Mummy and Daddy of Theo Sam Lee Pepper 11.10.23 whose life was stolen

Georgina Albel, Mia and Ollie’s harmed mother and birth trauma survivor, still battling after 25 years

Mel and Karl Ibrahim, parents to Amaya Ibrahim who was brain injured at birth in 2016

Pete Arnold, bereaved father to Benjamin

Angela Welsh, bereaved Mummy to Kion

Louise Lyon, bereaved Mummy to Elsa Lyon

Dannielle Lindsay Godfrey, bereaved mummy to Jayden

Lyndsey Shields, bereaved mummy to Jack Allan Shields

Georgia Dionne Wilson, mother and daughter failed by LTHT

Kelly Redhead, bereaved and harmed mummy to Harper Rose

Damon Green, father to Freyja Louise Green

Sana Khan, bereaved sister in law to Almas Khan

Tassie Weaver, bereaved mum to Baxter

Laura Parkinson, bereaved mum to Joseph

Jill Thompson, Beatrice's granny

Helen Wright, bereaved Mum to Betsy Wright

Rachel Baines, harmed Mummy and bereaved Mummy to Callum James

Chloe Emmens, bereaved mummy to Curtis Jax Emmens failed immensely by LGI

Rebecca Tinker and Frankie Tinker both harmed

Amarjit Kaur and Mandip Singh Matharoo, bereaved parents to Asees Kaur Matharoo (06.01.2024)

Rachel Cooper, harmed parent

Claire Emma Butterfield, harmed baby neglected by St James failed by whole NHS

Heidi and Dale Morton, bereaved parents to Lyla Morton

Zoe Ward, bereaved parent to Bleu Ward

Marianne Marlow, Survivor of Birth Trauma and many NHS failures

Lorna Johnstone and Jamie Saye, bereaved parents to Nancy

Caroline Green, bereaved mummy to Freyja

Louisa Hendrickson, bereaved mum of Zion Esau Hendrickson

Tanya Wilkinson

Sammy and Scott Smith, Mummy and Daddy to Owen

Anne-Laure and Dimitry Aubert, parents of Manolo and Cassiopée Aubert

Natalie and Dave Needham, Parents to Kouper Needham

Susan Hargreaves, bereaved Mother

Harriet Layhe and Jason Warren, bereaved parents of Lyra Rose

Kirsty and Jack, bereaved parents of Mia Darling 14/08/2023

Helena Morais, Maila’s Present

Louisa Hendrickson, Zion’s Lighthouse

Gina Reeves and Rachel Burrell, Founders of Ebony Bonds Bereavement Support

Maternity Safety Alliance

Mumsnet

Zephyr's charity, Nottingham

The Lily Mae Foundation

Love Leo, Registered CIC

Ellie's Gift CIC

Maternity: Right2Recover

Little Wings of Hope, registered charity

The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation

Team Caitlin, registered charity

Heidi Eldridge, CEO, MAMA Academy

Natalie Cosgrove, Lawyer and Mum

Steve Yemm MP (Mansfield)

Tim Loughton, Former Minister for Children and MP responsible for the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act 2019

Elizabeth Hutton OBE, Chief Executive of Kicks Count

Bobbie Farsides, Emeritus Professor, University of Sussex

Deb Hazeldine, patient safety campaigner

Paula McGowan OBE

Emily Cooper, mum of Alexander and Isabelle

Dr Jenna Johnston, Consultant Paediatrician

Shema Tariq

Laura Buckingham

Bex Gunn

Miss Rebecca Gibbs FRCOG

Heather Heath-Alton, Registered Midwife

Sian Ness (RM), Bereavement Consultant and Midwife

Elizabeth Smith, Retired Midwife Consultant

Hannah Jarvis registered midwife 1994-2012 (specialist midwife clinical governance at university hospitals of Leicester nhs trust 2002-2012)

Dimitrios Siassakos, Professor of Obstetrics, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Kiana Shirvani, final year student midwife