Streeting said the update from Baroness Amos “demonstrates that too many families have been let down, with devastating consequences”.
“I know that NHS staff are dedicated professionals who want the best for mothers and babies, and that the vast majority of births are safe, but the systemic failures causing preventable tragedies cannot be ignored,” he said.
The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation is meant to draw up a series of national recommendations to improve maternity and neonatal services after previous inquiries had exposed the problems but not led to enough sustained improvements.
The final report from Baroness Amos will be published in the Spring, but the interim report – her reflections and initial impressions three months into the inquiry – highlight how ingrained poor care is.
Speaking to the BBC, the former UN diplomat said that she recognised there was “scepticism” and “criticism” of her approach.
“Time and time again, families feel that the system has failed them. I am very keen that that does not happen this time. And I think the fact that the Secretary of State has taken such a close interest is the thing that will make a big difference.”
Several inquiries over the past decade, including investigations into maternity services in Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury & Telford and East Kent, have led to 748 recommendations for improvements being made, according to the Amos review.
Yet still the harm continues – the biggest maternity inquiry in the history of the NHS, examining around 2,500 case in Nottingham, is due to report in June while another inquiry was recently announced into care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust.
