‘Difficult’ state of NHS maternity care is due to Tory inaction, inquiry head says

Donna Ockenden says previous government’s lack of progress has led to rise in reports of birth trauma in England

One of the UK’s most senior midwives has said inaction by the previous government over maternity care failures has led to the “difficult” situation in wards across England and a rise in reports of birth trauma.

Donna Ockenden, who is leading the biggest inquiry in NHS history into maternity failures in Nottingham, said the Conservatives had been given a “blueprint” for how to improve maternity services but that it had not been implemented.