A Path to Safer Beginnings in Wales provides a whole system assessment of maternity and neonatal care and services across all health boards in Wales, identifying strengths alongside areas where the system must improve.
Responding to the report today, Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“Today’s report acknowledges that staffing and resource levels in Wales have not kept up with rising workloads, and increasingly complex care. Although the review found many women and families are receiving compassionate and personalised care, these pressures are undoubtedly impacting maternity and neonatal service provision across Wales. We therefore strongly support the call for a long-term multidisciplinary workforce plan and for Health Boards to urgently address these staffing pressures.
“We also support the proposed creation of a national strategic oversight board and a joined up national perinatal leadership team with obstetric, neonatal nursing and obstetric anaesthetic Clinical Directors working alongside the Chief Midwifery Officer in Wales. By clarifying accountabilities, supporting collaboration, and facilitating better use of data and safety signals, faster progress can be made.
“The recommendation for national service specifications on maternity triage, induction of labour and perinatal mental health pathways will reduce unwarranted variation and enable safer, personalised care. The RCOG has a key role to play to ensure that our existing best-practice guidelines and clinical expertise shape these.
“It is also encouraging to see staff mental health recognised in the report, with nearly 20% of doctors surveyed in the RCOG 2025 workforce census at high risk of burnout. Without action, we will continue to lose experienced clinicians from already overstretched services.
“The report also rightly recognises the importance of women, partners, and communities co-developing improvement work, and transparent and trauma-informed review and investigation processes that lead to learning. The RCOG is committed to working with the Welsh government, NHS Wales, our partners, and all those using maternity services to drive the essential progress that families, and the maternity and neonatal workforce, need and deserve.”
The College supports maternity safety within the system through its role as an educator: developing the curriculum, raising standards of care through the development of clinical guidance, supporting the career development of clinicians through exams, professional development courses and events, and support services for its members. The College also delivers research and quality improvement programmes that contribute to improvements in maternity safety and as part of its influencing and advocacy activity, ensures system wide improvements are identified and delivered.
- Read the RCOG maternity safety policy position
- Explore findings from the RCOG Workforce Census 2025
- Find out more about RCOG membership advice and support service information