The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has warned that poor maternity care in NHS hospitals could become 'normalised' without urgent action. A report based on 131 inspections between August 2022 and December 2023 found that 48% of maternity units were rated as 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate’, while only 4% were rated as 'outstanding’. The report highlights systemic issues across NHS services, echoing previous high-profile investigations, such as the Ockenden Review into over 200 baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital. The CQC emphasised that the problems identified are widespread and not limited to a few hospitals. The lack of proper equipment, space, and safety measures raises significant concerns about the potential normalisation of serious harm in maternity care. Health secretary Wes Streeting expressed his dismay, stating that childbirth should not be an experience women fear or look back on with trauma. The report stresses the need for immediate reforms to ensure the safety and dignity of women and newborns.