A Call for a Maternity Commissioner
Why maternity care in the UK must change, and how you can help.
Too many women and families experience trauma during childbirth in the UK.
Too many voices are ignored, dismissed, or never truly heard.
We are calling for the appointment of a UK Maternity Commissioner to oversee maternity services, strengthen accountability, and drive meaningful, lasting change.
This is not about blame.
It is about making maternity care safe, compassionate, and consistent for everyone.
Now we need Parliament to act.
Why this matters
Birth trauma affects thousands of women every year.
It can have long-lasting impacts on physical health, mental health, relationships, and family life.
In 2024, a parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma recommended the creation of a Maternity Commissioner and a national maternity strategy. This petition exists to help turn those recommendations into action.
Without clear oversight, experiences continue to vary widely depending on location, resources, and luck. That is not good enough.
Everyone deserves safe care.
Everyone deserves to be listened to.
What a Maternity Commissioner would do
A Maternity Commissioner would:
Act as an independent voice for women and families
Oversee maternity services across England
Ensure lessons are learned from failures, not repeated
Push for consistency, safety, and accountability
Help restore trust in maternity care
This role already exists in other areas of healthcare. Maternity care should be no different.
Why I am supporting this
I have spoken openly about my own experience of birth trauma because silence helps no one.
I have heard from thousands of women who carry similar stories. Some loud. Some quiet. Many unresolved.
This petition is not just about policy.
It is about people. Families. Futures.
If sharing this page or signing the petition helps even one person feel safer, it matters.
How you can help
Sign the petition
Share it with friends, family, and colleagues
Talk about it openly
Help keep the conversation going
Change happens when enough people say this matters.