To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the independent reviews by Dr Bill Kirkup, Donna Ockenden and Baroness Amos, what actions they are taking to ensure accountability for failures identified in relation to maternity services and care, particularly regarding leadership and governance; and whether they intend to remove any honours from board members who were in those roles during the period in which failings are found to have taken place.
The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, led by Baroness Amos, found that accountability is not being delivered consistently when things go wrong. Donna Ockenden’s Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust also identified serious failures of leadership and accountability.
The National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will oversee the development of a national action plan to implement the national recommendations from both reviews.
The Government will focus on ensuring the recommendations on accountability are acted upon. This includes extending the duty of candour to future maternity reviews in Leeds and Sussex. The independent Forfeiture Committee can consider recommending the revocation of an honour held by any recipient who is deemed to have brought the honours system into disrepute.
Answered on 24 Aug 2026