Former Children’s Commissioner to Lead Independent Assessment of Maternity and Neonatal Services in Wales

MAMA Academy welcomes the announcement that Professor Sally Holland, former Children’s Commissioner for Wales, will chair the new independent oversight panel to review all maternity and neonatal services across Wales.

This nationwide assessment will place the safety, quality, and experiences of women and families at its core. Its purpose is to provide real-time assurance about the standards of care being delivered, while also highlighting areas of excellence and identifying where urgent improvements are needed.

The review follows the independent investigation into maternity services at Swansea Bay and wider concerns raised about maternity and neonatal care across the UK.

Families at the Heart of Change

Professor Holland emphasised that the assessment will be shaped by the voices and lived experiences of mothers, babies, and families:

“Maternity and neonatal services play a crucial role in ensuring safe and positive experiences for mothers, babies and families at a time in their lives when they need the best possible care. In this assessment we will ensure that their voices and experiences are at the heart of our work, and that we identify both excellent practice and areas where improvements are urgently needed.”

MAMA Academy strongly supports this commitment. Listening to parents is essential to understanding not just the clinical outcomes, but the culture and compassion of care that families receive.

An Expert Panel with Broad Experience

Professor Holland will lead a distinguished panel of experts, whose combined experience spans midwifery, obstetrics, neonatology, healthcare improvement, and family engagement. Together, they will bring independent scrutiny and practical recommendations for the future.

The panel includes:

Ken Sutton – Formerly Secretary to the Independent Investigation into East Kent maternity services.
Heidi Smoult – Midwife by background, former NHS Chief Executive, and Deputy Chief Inspector at the CQC.
Sue Holden – Nurse, midwife, and Chair of Advancing Quality Alliance, with extensive NHS leadership experience.
Dr Edile Murdoch – Consultant neonatologist in Edinburgh and national specialty advisor for NHS England’s maternity and neonatal programme.
Dr Jo Mountfield – Recently retired consultant obstetrician with more than 20 years’ experience and former RCOG education lead.
Professor Mary Renfrew – Internationally recognised researcher in midwifery, infant feeding, and maternity care, with advisory roles to the WHO and UNICEF.

Government Commitment

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, highlighted the importance of the review:

“This assessment will scrutinise maternity and neonatal services across Wales and provide recommendations for how they can be improved. We are undertaking this assessment to gain assurances about the quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services across Wales.”

The oversight panel is expected to deliver its initial recommendations by the end of 2025.

Why This Matters

Every woman deserves safe, respectful, and compassionate maternity care. Every baby deserves the best possible start in life. By focusing on safety, transparency, and listening to families, this review has the potential to drive meaningful change across Wales – and to contribute to national learning for maternity services across the UK.

MAMA Academy will continue to follow this work closely and share updates to support our mission: helping more babies arrive safely.