We don't need another inquiry to reveal reasons behind NHS maternity care scandal: Yorkshire Post Letters

James Drife MD FRCOG, Emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, University of Leeds, Roundhay, Leeds.

I’m distressed beyond measure at what has happened to maternity services in England since I retired as professor in Leeds 17 years ago.

However, we don’t need yet another inquiry – we know what went wrong.

Even before I retired, the NHS had an official policy of encouraging “normal birth” and an unofficial policy of not listening to doctors.

Doctors were excluded from maternity care as much as possible, and resources for maternity units were cut to the bare minimum - and beyond.

Today, even the units which still provide acceptable care are struggling, and fearful that they won’t be able to continue doing so.

The President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (a Leeds graduate) has called for the system to move from investigation to action, and is working closely with the President of the Royal College of Midwives to restore the care that we used to be proud of.

I’m hopeful that Yvette Cooper will support them as they challenge the entrenched NHS policies.

This may be small comfort to the Leeds bereaved family group in their unimaginable distress, but all I can say is better late than never.