Letter from OUH on maternity services

OUH today issued the letter below to women and their families who are currently using maternity services at OUH, or who have used them in the past, about our inclusion in the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The letter explains how the Trust will engage with the Investigation and also with families, as well as seeking to reassure women about current services and invites people to contact the Trust with any concerns or feedback.

You may be aware that a National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation has been announced. This independent investigation will involve 14 NHS Trusts, including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) and will inform a single set of national recommendations to drive improvements in maternity and neonatal services across England.

OUH welcomes this investigation and will engage openly with the team. We see it as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and contribute to national progress in maternity and neonatal care. We will ensure transparency throughout the review to improve local services. Your safety and wellbeing remain our priority.

At OUH, we strive to provide care that is safe, high-quality, and respectful. We recognise that some families have not experienced the standard of care we aim to deliver, for which we are truly sorry. 

Over the past three years, improving maternity and neonatal services has been a priority for OUH, including:

•    Strengthening how we listen to and involve families.
•    An investment of £3 million has been made to enhance the John Radcliffe delivery suite and the Horton MLU birthing environments, as well as to recruit more midwives, providing greater support for women and families.
•    Upgraded our facilities to allow 24/7 visiting for birth partners and create a more welcoming environment for families.
•    Investing in new technologies and innovative ways of working.

These changes, alongside our broader Perinatal Improvement Programme, are contributing to safer, more responsive and higher-quality care.

If you have concerns about the care you are receiving, we encourage you to speak with your midwife or named consultant in the first instance. We are committed to listening and responding to your concerns with compassion and urgency.

If you wish to raise concerns outside of the clinical team, you may contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): pals@ouh.nhs.uk.

If you have had a positive experience, we would also like to hear from you. We have created a new email address for feedback: maternityfeedback@ouh.nhs.uk, which is linked on our website so we can learn from what worked well and make this accessible to all families.

You can also learn more about the investigation on the government website.

Further updates will be shared via our Trust website, social media channels, and community networks as more information becomes available.

Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Christley

Chief Nursing Officer

Andrew Brent

Chief Medical Officer

Milica Redfearn

Director of Midwifery

Florian Stoermer

Divisional Director of Nursing for NOTSSCaN