Talking to health professionals
Many parents tell us they worry about being a nuisance or wasting NHS time. But you are never a nuisance when it comes to your baby’s health.
Covid-19 Inquiry Report – Maternity care must never be overlooked again
The Lullaby Trust was one of 13 Pregnancy, Baby and Parent Organisations (PBPOs) who came together to represent families affected during the pandemic. The inquiry’s findings today reinforces what families, healthcare professionals and charities have been voicing since the pandemic began: maternity and neonatal care were not prioritised as they should have been.
The Inquiry’s acknowledgment that maternity must be seen as a high-priority area in healthcare planning is a crucial and overdue step. Throughout the pandemic, pregnant women, birthing people, and new parents faced disrupted care at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. For many, this led to trauma, unsafe experiences, and, in some cases, devastating loss.
The PBPO fully supports the Inquiry’s conclusion that partners should never have been treated as “visitors.” Partners are an essential part of pregnancy, labour, birth, neonatal care, and early parenting. Excluding them caused unnecessary harm, increased trauma, and took away important support for both parents and babies.
We especially appreciate that the Inquiry recognises the deep impact on those who experienced baby loss during this period. Many faced this heartbreak without the emotional and clinical support they deserved. The inconsistent access to partners and support networks made grief even harder, leaving many to handle unimaginable moments alone.
During this time, many also hesitated to seek care because restrictions, mixed messages, and fear of healthcare settings made them unsure if services were accessible or safe.
Instead of encouraging timely contact, which is crucial for spotting risks and complications, policies unintentionally created barriers that delayed critical care.
At the same time, remote appointments were often used instead of in-person assessments, even though they were not suitable for many parts of antenatal care. Important clinical checks, emotional support, and safeguarding discussions could not be effectively done over the phone or via video. For those with complications, first-time parents, those with limited access to technology, and families facing social or language barriers, remote care widened existing inequalities. As a result, many missed out on timely, relationship-focused, hands-on care when they needed it most.
It is also important to remember that frontline maternity and neonatal staff worked under immense pressure, often facing unclear, rapidly changing, or delayed national guidance. We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the commitment, compassion, and resilience shown by midwives, neonatal staff, health visitors, and all those who provided essential care during challenging times.
Throughout this period, charities stepped in to fill the gaps, providing information, emotional support and continuity to families. PBPO organisation became lifelines for many, but charities should never again be required to replace essential maternity and neonatal services.
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Families told us time and time again how deeply these restrictions impacted them. From being forced to attend appointments alone, giving birth without a partner present, or facing baby loss alone. The impact of the restrictions will be felt by families for many years to come. This can never happen again. We must learn from this and ensure that maternity and neonatal care is treated as essential.
Jenny Ward, Chief Executive of The Lullaby Trust who gave evidence at the inquiry on behalf of the PBPOs.
We stand ready
to work collaboratively with government, the NHS, and partners across the sector to ensure these experiences are fully understood — and never repeated.
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Bereavement support helpline
If you would like the opportunity to talk freely, for as long as required, with a sympathetic and understanding listener, please contact us via our bereavement helpline or send an email.