The news headlines concerning Baroness Amos’ ongoing review into NHS maternity services makes for difficult, and frankly, distressing reading. The emerging picture of some mothers being left on dirty wards and struggling to access adequate food and water highlights a profound failure in the delivery of fundamental care.

As a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence, I see the devastating consequences when basic standards are neglected. These latest findings are not just about discomfort or inconvenience; they represent a serious breakdown of the duty of care, compromising both patient safety and dignity at one of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life.

The Foundations of Safe Care

What the review has uncovered is a systemic erosion of basic human decency and quality standards. When we discuss safety in maternity, the conversation rightly focuses on clinical outcomes—preventing birth injuries or detecting sepsis. However, we must recognise that a clean, well-staffed, and caring environment is the very foundation upon which clinical safety is built.

A mother who is hungry, dehydrated, or concerned about the cleanliness of her surroundings is less able to recover, less able to bond with her baby, and potentially less able to raise concerns about her own clinical condition or that of her child.

These issues are symptomatic of wider pressures we have seen repeatedly in the NHS, whether it is the impact of corridor care in A&E or delays in treatment. When resources are stretched, it is often fundamental, high-quality nursing care—the basics of wash, feed, observe, and comfort—that suffers first. But these basics are non-negotiable aspects of care.

Patient Safety: The CQC Standard

The standards set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) demand that services are not only clinically effective but also safe and well-led. This includes maintaining a clean and appropriate environment and ensuring patients’ nutritional and hydration needs are met.

When wards are dirty, the risk of hospital-acquired infections increases. When staff are too stretched to ensure patients are fed and watered, it speaks volumes about staffing levels and the ability of the unit to operate safely. Such conditions directly violate the expectation that care should be patient-centred and delivered with dignity and respect.

It is deeply concerning that a service meant to support the start of life is failing to meet these most basic requirements. We need to move beyond simply acknowledging these pressures and focus on implementing robust, accountable solutions that prioritise the patient experience and safety above all else.

Practical Steps for Patients and Carers

While the onus for fixing these systemic issues lies with NHS leadership, trusts, and the government, patients and their families are their own best advocates. If you or a loved one are accessing maternity services, or any hospital care, consider the following practical, non-medical steps:

• Observe your environment: If you notice that your area is visibly unclean, or if essential facilities (like toilets or showers) are not clean, make a polite but firm request to staff for it to be addressed immediately.

• Monitor basic needs: If food or water is not being offered when appropriate, or if your needs (or those of the patient) are being forgotten, gently remind staff. Sometimes, in a busy environment, a simple reminder is all it takes.

• Keep a record: If you have to raise concerns about care, cleanliness, or staffing repeatedly, make a brief note of the time, date, and the nature of the concern. This is simply factual record-keeping and can be invaluable later.

• Use feedback channels: Do not hesitate to use formal feedback mechanisms within the hospital or approach the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Your voice helps highlight where standards are truly slipping and drives accountability.

Remember, a patient’s right to dignity and safety is absolute. The highest standard of clinical care is impossible to achieve without first securing the most fundamental level of humane and decent care. We must ensure that the findings of this review lead to immediate, decisive action to restore confidence and quality to our NHS maternity services.