'Women and babies are dying': Birth trauma survivors call for immediate action to fix maternity crisis

Women who have been failed by maternity services have called on the government to act now to tackle the crisis as "women and babies are dying".

On Tuesday, Health Secretary James Murray took questions from birth trauma survivors and bereaved mothers wanting to know how he intends to address shortfalls in the system.

The queries were put to the health secretary by Sky News' Sophy Ridge as part of a special programme on the Mornings show, which she hosts alongside Wilfred Frost.

It comes as Sky News has spent months highlighting the flaws and issues across the UK's maternity care system.

After the health secretary replied to the questions put to him on maternity services, women on the panel who had been listening in were unimpressed.

Rachel Coles, birth trauma survivor, said: "We've had review after review after review, and we've heard things just said like 'oh yeah, we'll be looking at that, we'll be doing that'... when?

"Because people are dying, women and babies are dying.

"And there comes a point when you actually have to step up and step in and they're not doing it."

Read more from Sky News:
Breaking point: Inside the UK's maternity crisis
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Another survivor wondered how it took so little for the government to green-light the opening of pubs until 5am on Monday to watch England play against Mexico in the World Cup, but action on maternity care keeps dragging.

"I just think there is just such blatant misogyny rife within government and obviously within healthcare from kind of what we're talking about," Hannah Swinburn said.

"Women have been screaming and shouting for years that they just want safer, respectful maternity care. And yet we can't pass legislation for that."

She added: "I don't understand what's just taking so long. If this is a priority, make it a priority."

Birth trauma survivor Neya Joshi asked the health secretary how the government would seek to improve post-natal care in hospital.

The health secretary replied: "There are some things that I'm prioritising right now as things we can do straight away. But I know that that's not the answer.

"I know that the answer has to be comprehensive, to take every aspect of maternity services and every part of women's interaction with maternity services from beginning to end."

Asked about his reply, Ms Joshi said she didn't really feel like Mr Murray had answered her question.

"I think staff accountability is really important because if you don't have that, then the same behaviours are going to be repeated," Ms Joshi said.

"Women are literally getting traumatised from the way that they're being spoken to, not just on postnatal wards, but generally as well."

Mr Murray was also asked if a public inquiry was being considered.

He replied an inquiry was "not off the table", but added it would be helpful to have a Hillsborough Law in place, forcing a duty of candour on public servants who could face jail if they don't answer questions honestly.

"In Nottingham, Donna Ockenden's review there, senior leaders in the local NHS refused to take part in her review," Mr Murray said.

"I think that's completely unacceptable, it feels wrong. I cannot understand how they, on a personal level, take that decision not to be part of it.

"So that's why the duty of candour that I mentioned means that in future in Leeds and Sussex, when the reviews are taking place there, senior leadership in the NHS won't be able to refuse; if they do, up to two years in prison is the ultimate sanction.

"They will have to take part because no one should be able to avoid that accountability."

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Women and babies are dying': Birth trauma survivors call for immediate action to fix mate