Responding to the Ockenden Review: Safe care for all needs evidence-based system change - and strengthened midwifery

The Final Report of the Ockenden Review examined the care of 1486 families who experienced adverse outcomes in one hospital Trust in England, the majority of whom received care between 2000 and 2020 (Ockenden 2022). It describes the damaging outcomes and experiences caused by poor care for women and babies in pregnancy, labour and birth. Multiple individual actions recommended by the report are resulting in immediate and extensive changes across the maternity services in England. The report findings are relevant across the whole UK, and to international efforts to improve safety and quality in maternal and newborn care systems.