Statement from the Pregnancy, Baby and Parent Organisations (PBPO) in response to the latest UK Covid‑19 Inquiry Report

The Pregnancy, Baby and Parent Organisations (PBPOs) who provided evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry – a group of thirteen charities supporting families through pregnancy, birth, neonatal care, and pregnancy and baby loss, including Group B Strep Support – welcome the Inquiry’s recognition that maternity and neonatal services were not given the attention they needed during the pandemic.

Disrupted Care During the Pandemic

The report reflects what families, frontline staff, and charities said throughout – pregnant women and people, those giving birth and new parents faced disrupted care at the exact time they needed steady, safe support.

Partners Should Never Have Been Treated as “Visitors”

We strongly support the Inquiry’s finding that partners should never have been treated as “visitors.” Their exclusion caused real and lasting trauma, including in neonatal units where babies were seriously ill with conditions such as suspected or confirmed infection, including group B Strep.

Delays in Seeking Help Increased Risks

Many families also held back from seeking help because of mixed messages and fear of attending services. For conditions that can get worse very quickly – including GBS infection in young babies – any delay can carry serious risks.

Remote Appointments Widened Inequalities

Remote appointments widened inequalities and were often not suitable for antenatal or neonatal checks. Too many women and people missed essential in‑person assessments, safeguarding conversations and hands‑on care.

Recognising the Efforts of Frontline Staff

We recognise the huge efforts of midwives, neonatal teams, health visitors and others who continued caring for families despite unclear and constantly changing guidance.

Charities Stepped In – But This Cannot Become the Norm

During the pandemic, charities – including GBSS – often stepped in to provide information, emotional support and practical guidance when families struggled to access statutory services. This cannot become the norm.

PBPOs Call for Action

PBPOs stand ready to work with policymakers, clinicians and families to make sure the harms experienced during Covid‑19 are fully understood and never repeated.

Statement from Jane Plumb MBE FRCOG

“Families needed clear, consistent care throughout the pandemic, but too often they didn’t get it. We heard from parents who were unsure whether it was safe to ask for help, even when their newborns had signs of serious infection. For conditions like group B Strep, where every hour matters, those delays put babies at real risk.

The Inquiry is right that partners should never have been treated as ‘visitors’. Their exclusion caused avoidable trauma, including when babies were in neonatal units receiving urgent care.

GBSS saw how parents struggled to get information, emotional support and timely access to services. Families must never again be put in a position where fear or unclear messages stand between them and the care they need. We owe it to them to learn from this and make it doesn’t happen again.”