Valerie Amos

Valerie Amos has been appointed as the UK's first commissioner for maternity and neonatal care. This significant appointment follows a major review that identified multiple failings in childbirth care across England. The new role will empower Amos to drive urgent transformations within the system, holding hospitals accountable for persistent care failures and ensuring improvements. Her appointment comes amid growing pressure on the government to address systemic issues in maternity services, highlighted by recent cases of severe harm to newborns. For instance, a family accepted a £28 million payout after their daughter suffered brain damage at birth due to admitted NHS trust errors in monitoring and obstetric review. Amos's mandate is to push through necessary changes, making her a central figure in the ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and quality of maternity and neonatal care in England.