Emily Townsend

I'm a correspondent at specialist national news title Health Service Journal, passionate about achieving parity of esteem for mental health and giving a voice to the voiceless. I was previously a reporter at Archant’s Investigations Unit.

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Health Service Journal •

High risk service paused dozens of times at ‘inadequate’ unit

By Emily Townsend2026-01-23T12:48:00A service offering elective caesarean sections for women considered “high risk” and unable to labour was paused 32 times, according to inspectors who have rated the department “inadequate” for the second time in a row. By Emily Townsend2026-01-23T12:48:00 A service offering elective caesarean sections for women considered “high risk” and unable to labour was paused 32 times, according to inspectors who have rated the department “inadequate” for the second ti...
Health Service Journal •

National maternity review will not ‘sideline’ Nottingham probe, pledges chair

The high-profile chair of a major maternity review into care failures in Nottingham has pledged to ensure its results “will not be sidelined” by the government’s national investigation.Concerns Donna Ockenden’s findings could be sidelined, followed ministers announcing in September that the national maternity review’s recommendations would “supersede the multiple existing actions and recommendations already in place”. While Ms Ockenden’s Nottingham University Hospitals Trust inquiry began in 20...
Health Service Journal •

Revealed: Urgent review ordered after deaths in fragile maternity services

By Emily Townsend and Alison Moore2026-01-20T06:05:00NHS England has ordered trusts to “urgently” review their home birth services, it has emerged – as an HSJ investigation reveals widespread fragility and safety risks. By Emily Townsend and Alison Moore2026-01-20T06:05:00 NHS England has ordered trusts to “urgently” review their home birth services, it has emerged – as an HSJ investigation reveals widespread fragility and safety risks.
Health Service Journal •

‘Distressing’ rise in maternal deaths as progress stalls

By Emily Townsend2026-01-13T03:29:00More women are dying during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth compared to over a decade ago – despite a government ambition to halve maternal mortality rates, it has emerged. By Emily Townsend2026-01-13T03:29:00 More women are dying during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth compared to over a decade ago – despite a government ambition to halve maternal mortality rates, it has emerged.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: Staff left suicidal by ‘punitive’ and drawn-out HR investigations

By Emily Townsend2025-12-17T16:34:00Investigations into workplace conflict and alleged misconduct are frequently being used as punishment across the NHS, leaving staff feeling suicidal and alienated, according to findings shared with HSJ. By Emily Townsend2025-12-17T16:34:00 Investigations into workplace conflict and alleged misconduct are frequently being used as punishment across the NHS, leaving staff feeling suicidal and alienated, according to findings shared with HSJ.
Health Service Journal •

NHSE orders daily reporting on maternity pressures

By Emily Townsend2025-12-15T06:20:00NHS England is requiring hospitals to report to it every morning on the state of their maternity and neonatal services, in what some leaders say is an echo of the “command and control under covid”. By Emily Townsend2025-12-15T06:20:00 NHS England is requiring hospitals to report to it every morning on the state of their maternity and neonatal services, in what some leaders say is an echo of the “command and control under covid”.
Health Service Journal •

Maternity review trusts delivered ‘better care than expected’, CQC finds

By Emily Townsend2025-12-11T05:25:00Only two of the 12 trusts involved in the government’s national investigation into maternity services delivered care that was “worse than expected”, according to a Care Quality Commission survey. By Emily Townsend2025-12-11T05:25:00 Only two of the 12 trusts involved in the government’s national investigation into maternity services delivered care that was “worse than expected”, according to a Care Quality Commission survey.
Health Service Journal •

National maternity review branded ‘light touch’

By Emily Townsend2025-12-09T05:17:00The “rapid national investigation” into maternity care failings launched by Wes Streeting will not formally evaluate the performance of the 12 trusts involved, it has emerged, as families criticised the government’s “light touch” approach. By Emily Townsend2025-12-09T05:17:00 The “rapid national investigation” into maternity care failings launched by Wes Streeting will not formally evaluate the performance of the 12 trusts involved, it has emerged, as famili...
Health Service Journal •

‘Sexual misconduct and blame culture’ found at hospital

By Emily Townsend2025-12-03T05:51:00Specialist medics in training have been removed from a hospital department after an NHS England investigation uncovered concerns about sexually inappropriate, undermining and aggressive behaviours. By Emily Townsend2025-12-03T05:51:00 Specialist medics in training have been removed from a hospital department after an NHS England investigation uncovered concerns about sexually inappropriate, undermining and aggressive behaviours.
Health Service Journal •

CQC admits it falsely claimed not to know about trust maternity concerns

By Emily Townsend2025-11-28T12:25:00The Care Quality Commission has admitted it did know about concerns over the death of a baby at a trust being investigated for serious maternity failures after initially denying it had been informed. By Emily Townsend2025-11-28T12:25:00 The Care Quality Commission has admitted it did know about concerns over the death of a baby at a trust being investigated for serious maternity failures after initially denying it had been informed.
Health Service Journal •

'Parity' rule disparaged as ‘micromanagement’ by government

By Emily Townsend2025-11-27T13:32:00The spending rule designed to ensure that mental health services received an equal share of NHS funding growth has been criticised by the government as an example of “command and control micromanagement”. By Emily Townsend2025-11-27T13:32:00 The spending rule designed to ensure that mental health services received an equal share of NHS funding growth has been criticised by the government as an example of “command and control micromanagement”.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: Government accused of ‘weakening’ spend on service at ‘breaking point’

By Emily Townsend2025-11-26T12:13:00Mental health spending will only rise in line with inflation under new NHS England proposals, HSJ has learned, in what sector leaders have described as a “weakening” of funding protections. By Emily Townsend2025-11-26T12:13:00 Mental health spending will only rise in line with inflation under new NHS England proposals, HSJ has learned, in what sector leaders have described as a “weakening” of funding protections.
Health Service Journal •

Negligence payouts ‘ridiculous’, says minister

By Emily Townsend2025-11-18T13:07:00The patient safety minister has criticised the “ridiculous” amount the NHS spends on compensation for harm, claiming it sometimes costs more than services themselves. By Emily Townsend2025-11-18T13:07:00 The patient safety minister has criticised the “ridiculous” amount the NHS spends on compensation for harm, claiming it sometimes costs more than services themselves.
Health Service Journal •

CQC turnaround ‘on track’, despite ‘disruptive’ CEO departure

By Dave West and Emily Townsend2025-11-10T12:49:00The turnaround of the Care Quality Commission is “on track” despite the sudden and unexpected loss of its chief executive, according to its new chief inspector of hospitals. By Dave West and Emily Townsend2025-11-10T12:49:00 The turnaround of the Care Quality Commission is “on track” despite the sudden and unexpected loss of its chief executive, according to its new chief inspector of hospitals.
Health Service Journal •

‘Deeply flawed’ watchdog fails to act in 182 cases

By Emily Townsend2024-11-25T06:20:00Bereaved parents have described maternity investigations carried out by a watchdog as “deeply flawed” after it failed to make recommendations to trusts in 182 cases of deaths and harm. By Emily Townsend2024-11-25T06:20:00 Bereaved parents have described maternity investigations carried out by a watchdog as “deeply flawed” after it failed to make recommendations to trusts in 182 cases of deaths and harm.
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