Regional TV and radio, together with local newspapers, do so much for families like ours.  Their journalists have compassion, they give you time, they care - and they stick with you.  It's why Kayleigh and Colin featured on ITV central again this evening with an update on the CQC challenge we have posed (and a nod to all of you wonderful signatories.)  

You can watch the package here: https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-11-27/parents-disappointed-by-health-watchdogs-response-over-maternity-scandal

The CQC told the reporter they are going to invite us to meet them.  But we will only meet if they broadly accept our criticisms and agree to support our call for a national (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) inquiry into maternity services.

The CQC is the body responsible for ensuring our health care provision is fit for purpose.  You'd sincerely hope they'd support any initiative for required improvement. Let's wait and see.  So far, their approaches have been defensive in the face of indisputable evidence of their shortcomings.

In the meantime we've been asked what our ambition is for this petition.  20,000 signatories?  Already achieved - thanks to every one of you.  You make us feel so humble.  100,000 to get central government to listen?  Why would we ever set a limit on the number of people we hope will add their voices to ours because they care about making a step change in maternity and early years' service provision to ensure babies survive and children thrive? 

We will welcome as many of you as want to join us.  With heartfelt thanks.

Rhiannon, Rich, Kay and Colin.