Eastleigh's MP says maternity services investigation is 'long-overdue'
Liberal democrat MP Liz Jarvis says England should be the safest place in the World to have a baby
Last updated 25th Jun 2025
Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis has welcomed Wes Streeting MP’s announcement of a rapid national inquiry into maternity services amid ongoing investigations into poor maternity care in some trusts.
Ms Jarvis wrote to the Secretary of State for Health last week to push for the inquiry into preventable deaths.
Ms Jarvis raised the case of Eastleigh residents Charlotte and James Bassett, whose baby daughter, Norah, tragically died in April 2019 at Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Norah was given the all-clear by a doctor but quickly became poorly. Despite concerning oxygen saturation results, Norah was not rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit. She died very suddenly that same night.
Charlotte and James are being supported by the Maternity Safety Alliance, a group of parents whose babies have died in hospitals who are pushing for a reform of maternity services.
Liz Jarvis MP for Eastleigh said:
“I welcome the Health Secretary’s action to call this long-awaited national inquiry. After suffering incredible heartbreak and trauma, the bravery of the families who have campaigned for this action for years has been inspiring and they deserve enormous credit for the announcement.
“The Government must act to end needless harm in our maternity units and ensure that every woman who is giving birth can expect the highest standards of safety, professionalism, care and respect. The UK should be the safest place in the world to have a baby, but this has not been the case for too long.”