Dear supporters,

It is utterly devastating to read todays final Ockenden report, an Independent review of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and my heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone involved https://www.ockendenmaternityreview.org.uk/

The report includes numerous recommendations for improvements in maternity services, including safe staffing levels and we must learn, make changes where necessary and continue to strive to provide excellent and safe maternity care in the U.K.

But how can we do this without adequate support and investment from the government? In the Ockenden report it’s states -

“NHS Providers, as cited in the recent Select Committee report has estimated the cost of full expansion of the maternity services workforce to be £200m - £350m. We endorse and support this view.”

On the 24th of March the government announced a £127 million funding boost for maternity services across the England, which is well below the recommendation of £200-£350 million https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmhealth/19/1902.htm 

We need the government to invest the full amount of £350 million as recommended by the select committee and the Ockenden report, to safely improve maternity services all across England. 

I don’t want to read another report in 5, 10 or 15 years time that more precious lives have been lost to a broken maternity system. We need to invest in midwives, obstetricians and maternity services NOW before another tragically preventable crisis happens again.

The only scandal is the government failing to listen again, to prioritise life before profit, ensure safety before budgets and to fund our NHS services in the way that we all deserve.

In the grand scheme of things, the most precious and valuable thing in life is family. Yours, mine and every single persons.

Please sign and SHARE the petition on social media calling for urgent support and investment from the government into maternity services, We have over 124,000 signatures already but we need many more to make an impact https://chng.it/JfCwfKxK 

Kind regards

Cheryl Samuels 

Midwife, Lecturer at The University of Suffolk.