Julia Lopez MP is encouraging local families to take part in a national Call for Evidence on NHS maternity care, launched as part of an independent investigation chaired by Baroness Amos.
Mrs Lopez has worked closely with local families on maternity safety issues for some time and has engaged with groups including the Love Leo Baby Loss Community, supporting efforts to ensure that families’ experiences lead to meaningful change for women, babies and their families when it comes to maternity care.
Baroness Amos made Romford’s Queen’s Hospital one of the first stops in her wider programme of visits to maternity units, and the Hornchurch & Upminster MP made sure the inquiry team arranged for her visit to include a private meeting with some of the affected families.
Baroness Amos' wider Call for Evidence now provides an opportunity for women, partners and the family to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal services in England, including where care has been compassionate and, most importantly, where it has fallen short.
Evidence gathered will inform national recommendations that will shape the future of maternity and neonatal care.
The Call for Evidence is open to:
- Women who have been pregnant
- Fathers and partners of women
- Family members and others who supported a loved one through pregnancy
Maternity services have been a significant focus of Mrs Lopez's local work in recent years. She has repeatedly raised concerns on behalf of constituents with senior management about services at Queen’s Hospital Romford, pressing for improvements in standards, safety and patient experience.
Following a meeting with the Trust’s Chief Executive before Christmas, Mrs Lopez was reassured that standards appear to be improving, as evidenced by a recent CQC inspection that moved the service from 'requires improvement’ to ‘good’. However, she has stressed that continued scrutiny and improvement efforts are essential to securing sustained progress for local families.
Julia said:
“Too many families have had a poor experience with NHS maternity services at one of the most important moments of their lives. Sometimes this has led to long-standing trauma or health issues. At its worst, it has led to the loss of precious babies – an unspeakable tragedy for the families involved.
This call for evidence is a vital opportunity for women, parents and families to share their experiences honestly. I would strongly encourage anyone locally with a story to tell to take part, so maternity services improve for women, babies and their families.”
The Call for Evidence is open until 17 March 2026. Responses can be submitted online, with accessible options including easy read versions, translations into multiple languages and additional support for those who need it.
