£4.5m Investment to Improve Maternity and Neonatal Services Across Berkshire
Mothers and babies across Berkshire are set to benefit from a £4.5 million investment in maternity and neonatal services, aimed at improving safety, modernising facilities and creating better environments for families and NHS staff.
The dedicated funding will target some of the most urgent safety risks within Berkshire maternity and neonatal facilities, including fire safety concerns, ventilation systems and ageing infrastructure.
The investment forms part of a wider national programme to improve NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, with £187 million committed to improvements since April 2025.
A further £25 million has also been announced to address the causes of maternal deaths, strengthen maternity triage services and improve bereavement facilities for families.
Maternity safety becomes a national priority
The funding follows the landmark National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, known as the Amos review, which published its final report and recommendations on 30 June 2026.
The review has prompted urgent action to strengthen the safety and quality of maternity care, including plans to establish the country’s first maternity and neonatal commissioner.
New Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper has placed NHS maternity care among her key priorities after taking up the role on 20 July 2026.
During a recent visit to the maternity department at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Cooper highlighted the importance of ensuring every woman giving birth through the NHS feels safe, supported and properly cared for.
The Health Secretary also chairs the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, which is overseeing work to improve standards and outcomes for mothers and babies across England.
Wider reforms to NHS maternity services
The Berkshire investment builds on a series of national reforms designed to strengthen maternity and neonatal care.
Since June 2024, progress has included the recruitment of 2,000 additional midwives, alongside the introduction of a new programme aimed at reducing brain injuries during labour.
Martha’s Rule is also being extended to maternity and neonatal wards across England, giving patients and families another route to request an urgent clinical review if they are concerned that a condition is worsening.
The £4.5 million investment in Berkshire represents another step towards improving maternity safety and ensuring mothers, babies and their families receive high-quality care in safer, better-equipped NHS facilities.
