Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
In May 2025, I commissioned NHS Performance and Improvement to undertake an all-Wales assurance assessment of maternity and neonatal services. Chaired by the former Children’s Commissioner for Wales Professor Sally Holland, the detailed and comprehensive report and recommendations are being published today.
In commissioning the panel to review the services, I wanted a real time assessment of safety of maternity and neonatal services across Wales, drawing on the learning from the independent review of services in Swansea Bay University Health Board and reviews of maternity services at NHS trusts in England.
The independent, expert panel spoke to hundreds of women and families and to maternity and obstetric staff and visited maternity units throughout Wales. Its subsequent report highlights areas of good practice and identifies the vulnerabilities, risks and concerns which must now be remedied.
The assessment provides an objective examination of maternity and neonatal services and reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering safe, high‑quality care for mothers, babies and families. It reinforces the dedication and professionalism of the workforce, but it also underlines the importance of continual learning, transparency and improvement across our NHS.
I am pleased the review identified many strengths in Welsh maternity and neonatal services and there was positive feedback from expectant women and their partners and from new parents about many aspects of the quality of their care, including a willingness to help services improve.
However, there are also many areas where we can and must do better. After carefully considering the report and its findings, I am accepting all the recommendations in whole or in part, spanning national leadership, data and safety, governance, continuity of care, triage and induction, workforce planning, mental health pathways and neonatal commissioning. This will provide clarity and direction for services and ensure the report’s conclusions directly inform future policy development.
The recommendations will be delivered through a structured programme over a three‑year period, providing a clear and disciplined framework to support safe, sustainable and long‑term improvements. This phased approach will help services embed meaningful change while maintaining a strong focus on quality and safety.
I would like to thank Professor Holland and the members of the independent panel for their thorough work. I am equally grateful to all those who engaged with the assessment process. Their insights and experiences have been invaluable, ensuring the voices of women, families, staff and communities are reflected in the final report.
We are committed to ensuring every family receives the highest possible standard of maternity and neonatal care, underpinned by transparency, national oversight and continuous improvement.