The government has announced measures will be taken on a national level to further improve safety standards in maternity care in the NHS.

The government has published its response to an independent review - led by former Regional Director of Public Health Dr Bill Kirkup CBE - into maternity failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust.

Minister for women’s health, Maria Caulfield, will chair a new group overseeing maternity services nationwide.

The maternity and neonatal care national oversight group will bring together key people from the NHS and other organisations and will look across work being carried out by a range of programmes set up to improve maternity and neonatal care, including the implementation of Dr Kirkup’s and other recommendations, to ensure they are joined up and effective.

Minister for women’s health Maria Caulfield said: "Every woman deserves to feel confident in the care they and their baby receive. I’d like to thank Dr Kirkup and all those involved in investigating the circumstances behind what’s happened in these horrendous cases.

"In particular, I’d like to thank the women and their families, who have gone through so much pain, for engaging with the investigation and helping it reach its findings.

"I’m determined to see safety standards in maternity and neonatal care improve across the country. While this invaluable report focuses on the situation in East Kent, I want to see its recommendations implemented nationwide.

"This government will continue investing in the maternity workforce and working with the NHS to raise standards."

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