WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2026
NATIONAL MATERNITY
SAFETY CONFERENCE
Join us for our seventh annual National Maternity Safety Conference!
The National Maternity Safety Conference is back! This year’s event will take place at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham on Wednesday 16th September 2026.
Building on the success and popularity of our six previous events, this conference will bring together NHS professionals, families, researchers and stakeholders to discuss this year’s theme: Next Steps for Safer Care: From Insight to Implementation.
Themes and Speakers
Our diverse range of speakers will present updates on national improvement initiatives, share local improvement projects, and explore solutions to current challenges for maternity services.
Every year we take your ideas on board, and work with our trusted advisors, to build a conference that is useful, relevant and forward-thinking.
This year is an important one for maternity safety. Panel sessions will discuss: learning and next steps for the national taskforce; action on safety, equity and equality; listening and culture; and innovation and data.
#MatSafety2026 - Our speakers so far
Keynote Speakers
Chair, Advancing Quality Alliance (Aqua), and Member of the Maternity and Neonatal Assurance Assessment Oversight Panel for Wales
Confirmed Speakers
Professor of Obstetrics and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Professor of Maternal and Child Population Health, the University of Oxford.
Founder & Director of the Preventable Deaths Tracker, Senior Research Fellow at King's College London
President, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Chair of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services and Honorary President of Baby Lifeline
Regional Medical Director & Chief Clinical Information Officer
NHS England – East of England Region
Honorary Professor, Women's Health. University of East Anglia
Chief Executive, Royal College of Midwives
Martha's Rule Update
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Chair, APPG for Patient Safety
Director of Systemic Factors Limited, Visiting Lecturer at Cranfield University, and Member of Baby Lifeline’s Multi-Professional Advisory Panel
Dr Richard Duggins, Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy, North East and North Cumbria Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
Confirmed Speakers
Speakers (click to open)
President, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Patient Safety Campaigner and Chief Executive, Patient Safety Watch
Chief Executive, Royal College of Midwives
Clinical Professor of Public Health, University of Birmingham
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Senior Anaesthetic Registrar, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and Co-Founder and CEO, CardMedic
Senior Research Midwife, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Care Quality Commission
Co-Founder, Five X More CIC
Digital Midwife, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Digital Midwife, South Tees Hospital
MP for Sherwood Forest and Chair of the APPG for Maternity
Chair of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services and Honorary President of Baby Lifeline
President-Elect, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Founder of The Motherhood Group, and member of Baby Lifeline's Family Voices Group
Health Editor, The Sunday Times
National Clinical Director for Neonatology, NHS England
Director, THIS Institute
Co-Founder, Harmed Patients Alliance
Interim Head of Midwifery at Hywel Dda University Health Board
Consultant Neonatologist & Clinical Director for Maternity Services, NHS Lothian
Co-Chair, Baby Lifeline's Family Voices Group
Executive Committee member, Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association
Executive Committee member, Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association
Senior Midwife and Race Equity Advocate, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Exhibitors
As always, we invite exhibitors to join us in our adjoining exhibition space.
This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your products, services, or innovations to a highly engaged audience of healthcare professionals and decision-makers. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot early to maximise visibility and impact.
Please contact support@babylifeline.org.uk
to discuss exhibitor opportunities.
Poster Abstracts
Showcasing Innovations and Advancing Safety in Maternity Care.
We are always keen to showcase best practice in healthcare and we are pleased to welcome poster abstracts again this year. We will be looking to showcase quality improvement projects with outcome data to demonstrate impact.
We may invite applicants to join one of our panels to give an oral presentation.
#MatSafety2026
This year's panel sessions included:
Inclusion, Access, Communication
Quality improvement initiatives and discussion around what services can do to support better access, inclusion, and communication for all service users, but particularly those who are most vulnerable.
Reducing Mortality & Morbidity
What is happening at a national level to support services with evidence-based tools and initiatives to reduce mortality and morbidity for mothers, birthing people, and babies?
Workforce & Culture
Exploring learning and tools to improve workplace culture and boost staff morale. This session will delve into national work and initiatives to support services and professionals, and promote safer care for everyone.
The Future of Maternity Safety
What does the future look like in maternity care? This session will explore the challenges to maternity safety, as well as national, evidence-based initiatives to tackle key challenges.
Maternity Safety
Next Steps for Safer Care: From Insight to Implementation
Engage with expert speakers, explore the latest research, and discover actionable solutions designed to ensure every mother, birthing person and their baby receives the best possible care. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, researcher or advocate, this is the event that sets the standard for excellence in maternity care.
As always, our pre-conference VIP reception will be a brilliant opportunity to connect and network with like-minded colleagues. We hope you will join us to work together on our shared goal: improving maternity outcomes for everyone.
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT EXHIBITORS
Booking is now open!
We can’t wait to welcome all attendees to the Hilton Metropole on Wednesday 16th September.
For any questions or enquiries, please email support@babylifeline.org.uk.
Speakers Confirmed
Chair of the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Honorary President of Baby Lifeline
Chair of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services and Honorary President of Baby Lifeline
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the East of England, Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Associate Professor at the Medical School, University of East Anglia, and Chair of Baby Lifeline’s Multi-Professional Advisory Panel
Senior Research Midwife, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Interim Head of Midwifery at Hywel Dda University Health Board
Chair of the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Honorary President of Baby Lifeline
Chair of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services and Honorary President of Baby Lifeline.
Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the East of England, Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Associate Professor at the Medical School, University of East Anglia, and Chair of Baby Lifeline’s Multi-Professional Advisory Pane
Frequently Asked Questions
The conference will be in the Palace Suite at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel, address below:
Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel, Pendigo Way, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1PP.
Yes, booking is essential. You can book your place here.
Yes! Please contact us on support@babylifeline.org.uk to discuss this.
Yes, please contact us on support@babylifeline.org.uk to discuss this.
If your trust/organisation will be making payment a purchase order will be required addressed to: Baby Lifeline Trading Ltd
You will not require a physical ticket. All attendees will be asked to register on arrival and collect their name badges.
Please note you will not be granted access without a name badge.
We would love to hear about your quality improvement work. Please see our posters page for more information.
No, the event is in-person only. Talks and sessions will not be filmed for distribution afterwards, but delegates will receive post-event materials including PDF copies of many of the speakers’ slides.
Filming and/or photography will take place at the conference and the VIP reception. Footage and images are used to promote Baby Lifeline’s work. Where filming and/or photography will be taking place, clear signage will be displayed. Please notify staff on arrival if you do not wish to be included in any footage or photography.
Registration will open from 8.30am. The conference will be finished by 5pm. We have slightly adjusted the timings this year based on feedback from our delegates.
The Hilton Birmingham Metropole is located on the NEC complex near Birmingham International Airport. It is accessible via the M42 and the M6 by car.
Birmingham International Train Station is a seven-minute walk away, with Birmingham International Airport a twelve-minute walk through the NEC or a ten-minute commute via a monorail. More details here.
Yes, there is limited parking at the venue, the car park is operated by ANPR (automatic number plate recognition). Several car parks are also located within walking distance across the NEC site.
Blue Badge parking bays are available at the front of the venue car park, payment can be made at reception. Parking spaces for blue badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
Yes, the venue is wheelchair accessible. Please contact us on support@babylifeline.org.uk if you would like us to reserve a space for your wheelchair in the conference room.
Please contact us on support@babylifeline.org.uk to discuss access requirements.
There will be an opportunity to submit your dietary preferences when you book your ticket. Please contact us on support@babylifeline.org.uk if you would like to further discuss dietary requirements.
The Hilton Birmingham Metropole offers accommodation and there is a discounted rate for conference attendees. There are many other accommodation options in the area, including in Birmingham city centre.
Yes – attendees can receive 10% off the best available rate when booking a room at the Hilton Metropole. Use the following link to access the exclusive rate: Book with Hilton discount.
Yes. The hotel cloakroom/concierge is located just by entrance so guests can place coats/bags there on arrival. Anything left is left at your own risk.
Yes, complimentary WIFI is available. You can obtain the code on the day at the registration desk.
Yes, we will issue your CPD certificate via email following the event.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer discounts.
We may be able to transfer your ticket to a colleague. Please contact us on support@babylifeline.org.uk as soon as possible to discuss this.
Photos from #MatSafety2025:
Photos from our previous #MatSafety conferences:
#MatSafety2025
Last year’s event, our sixth conference, took place in Birmingham in September 2025. We heard from inspiring keynote speakers, including Sir Jeremy Hunt, Dr Richard Duggins and Jennifer O’Donnell, and invited a range of speakers to discuss the theme Shaping the Future of Maternity Care Together. We had a fantastic day and look forward to doing it again this year!