The NHS Alliance statement (Monday 19 October 2026) asks the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to tackle the strategic issues underpinning the challenges maternity services face, including the steep rise in caesarean sections, increasing levels of complexity, and the staff skill-mix required to deliver safe services in England.
Responding to the NHS Alliance statement, Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is calling for ringfenced, sustained investment in our maternity and neonatal services, to ensure every woman and every family receive safe, personalised and compassionate care.
“Excellent maternity care depends on good cultures, safe staffing levels, protected time for training, and adequate theatre facilities and equipment. Services must be supported to adapt to the significant changes in maternity care we are seeing, including increasing complexity and rates of caesarean births.
“We know there are staffing gaps across almost every rota in the country, and multiple investigations have identified growing service demand and workforce shortages as contributors to poor experiences and preventable harm.
“We want to see the government commit to expanding the maternity workforce to ensure safe staffing levels, along with investment in training and retention of the dedicated staff working in our maternity services.
“The distinct needs and challenges of smaller units, especially in rural and coastal communities, must be recognised and supported. There are other solutions to our workforce challenges that are far safer than closing maternity units, and these should be explored.
“This year must be a turning point where maternity investigations turn into action. The RCOG is absolutely committed to improving maternity and neonatal care, working with governments, our membership and families with lived experience, to support the improvements that women, babies and staff need and deserve."
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The RCOG is committed to supporting safer maternity care through education, clinical guidelines, research, and advocacy. The College’s maternity safety programme encompasses our role as an educator developing the curriculum; supporting the career development of clinicians through exams, courses and events; and raising standards of care through the development of clinical guidance.
- RCOG Maternity Safety programme, available here.
- Find out more about RCOG membership advice and support service information here.
- Find out more about RCOG Supporting our doctors here.
- For media enquiries, contact the RCOG press office: pressoffice@rcog.org.uk or +44 (0)7986 183167