In a poignant call for justice, Emily Barley, a mother who tragically lost her daughter Beatrice at 41 weeks due to a mix-up in heart rate monitoring at Barnsley Hospital, is spearheading a campaign for a comprehensive national inquiry into maternity care. Barley, 34, from Rotherham, has founded the Maternity Safety Alliance, an organization dedicated to advocating for safe and compassionate care for new mothers.
Beatrice’s heartbreaking story sheds light on the critical need for accountability within maternity services. The hospital has issued an apology for the tragic error, but Barley insists that “healthy babies don’t just die in labor.” She emphasizes the necessity of a full statutory inquiry into maternity care, and her cause has garnered support from hundreds of parents who have experienced similar heartbreaking losses or harm within the National Health Service (NHS).
“I’ve got lots of photos, hand and footprints, and clothes [Beatrice] wore, and she was just beautiful and amazing,” shares Barley, describing the profound impact of the loss. “She was incredible, perfect—the best moment of my life and the worst one as well.”
The Maternity Safety Alliance has formally written to the government, urging a nationwide investigation into repeated maternity scandals. The call for accountability echoes through the voices of bereaved families who have suffered irreparable losses at the hands of the NHS.
Fiona and Dan Winser-Ramm, who lost their daughter Aliona three years ago due to “neglect by midwives” at Leeds General Infirmary, are supporting the Maternity Safety Alliance’s campaign. Aliona lived for only 27 minutes, and the inquest ruled that her death was a result of substandard care. The hospital apologized and implemented improvements in response to the tragic incident.
Fiona Winser-Ramm expresses the urgency of the matter, stating, “Our whole lives had been ruined in the blink of an eye.” Her husband, Dan, advocates for an immediate public inquiry into maternity care, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive examination that employs a whole-system analysis to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
The call for a national inquiry is not limited to grieving parents; medical negligence lawyers are also rallying behind the cause. Sharon Allinson, a partner at Ashtons Legal, points out that issues persist across different hospitals, emphasizing the lack of shared learning on a national scale.
“We see a minority of what happens, and there is some really good maternity care out there,” says Allinson. “But tell that to the families who don’t go home with their baby.”
In response to the mounting pressure, the Department of Health and Social Care issued a statement highlighting a £165 million annual investment since 2021 to enhance the maternity workforce and improve neonatal services. The department also emphasized efforts to promote midwifery careers by increasing training places.
As the Maternity Safety Alliance gains momentum, the demand for a comprehensive inquiry into maternity care resonates as a vital step toward preventing future tragedies and ensuring accountability within the healthcare system.
