Responding to today’s written ministerial statement on the Maternity Investigation Programme being moved from the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Miriam Deakin, director of policy at NHS Providers, said:

"It is important to continue improving the safety of maternity services, which we know have specific challenges alongside wider pressures such as rising complexity and staff shortages.

"The delivery of independent, specialist maternity investigations is an important aspect of continually improving safety and learning. It’s vital this capability is protected in moving the programme from HSIB to CQC.

"We look forward to learning more about where the programme will fit within CQC and will seek further reassurance on how the independence of the investigations will be safeguarded. Clarity on how the programme will work with trusts – as well as wider CQC inspections – is needed.

"It is essential the CQC is properly resourced and supported so that it can carry out this additional important work alongside its core activities and expanded remit in relation to systems and local authorities."