Emily Townsend

I'm an award-winning journalist currently working as a senior correspondent at Health Service Journal. I predominantly cover care quality and patient safety, including maternity and the CQC.

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Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: Ministers drop plan to scrap investigations body

By Henry Anderson and Emily Townsend2026-10-21T17:35:00The government has U-turned on its plan to abolish an independent health service investigations body after opposition in the House of Lords, HSJ has learned. By Henry Anderson and Emily Townsend2026-10-21T17:35:00 The government has U-turned on its plan to abolish an independent health service investigations body after opposition in the House of Lords, HSJ has learned.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: Govt review 'ignored repeated evidence of normal birth ideology'

By Emily Townsend2026-10-17T15:38:00A national review’s poor use of AI to analyse evidence contributed to the downplaying of a key factor in the deaths of mothers and babies, according to one of its leading members. By Emily Townsend2026-10-17T15:38:00 A national review’s poor use of AI to analyse evidence contributed to the downplaying of a key factor in the deaths of mothers and babies, according to one of its leading members.
Health Service Journal •

Inquiry trust told to act on rise in inpatient deaths

By Emily Townsend2026-10-14T09:10:00Commissioners have demanded an action plan after an “increase of inpatient deaths” at a mental health trust already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths. By Emily Townsend2026-10-14T09:10:00 Commissioners have demanded an action plan after an “increase of inpatient deaths” at a mental health trust already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: Govt accused of ‘suppressing’ concerning maternity report

By Emily Townsend2026-10-13T09:00:00Leading campaigners have accused ministers of “suppressing” a report that is understood to set out significant concerns raised by families harmed by their experiences of maternity care investigations. By Emily Townsend2026-10-13T09:00:00 Leading campaigners have accused ministers of “suppressing” a report that is understood to set out significant concerns raised by families harmed by their experiences of maternity care investigations.
Health Service Journal •

At least 20% of baby deaths ‘potentially avoidable’

By Emily Townsend2026-10-08T16:50:00At least a fifth of baby deaths last year may have been preventable, with this estimate considered “a minimum”, an analysis of thousands of care reviews has concluded. By Emily Townsend2026-10-08T16:50:00 At least a fifth of baby deaths last year may have been preventable, with this estimate considered “a minimum”, an analysis of thousands of care reviews has concluded.
SoundCloud •

HSJ Podcast: Labour joins in the manager bashing

This week we bring you the health highlights from the Labour Party Conference, including an ex-minister who said he would sack half of the NHS managers he has met “in a heartbeat” for not being good enough.We also discu… This week we bring you the health highlights from the Labour Party Conference, including an ex-minister who said he would sack half of the NHS managers he has met “in a heartbeat” for not being good enough.We also discu…
Health Service Journal •

Public inquiries a costly ‘knee jerk’, warns chair

By Emily Townsend2026-09-29T11:25:00The chair of a major public inquiry has admitted they are often “hugely expensive”, time-consuming, and popular with politicians who are keen to pass the buck to the next minister. By Emily Townsend2026-09-29T11:25:00 The chair of a major public inquiry has admitted they are often “hugely expensive”, time-consuming, and popular with politicians who are keen to pass the buck to the next minister.
Health Service Journal •

Boards must ‘never again treat baby safety as side issue’, says Cooper

By Emily Townsend2026-09-15T15:15:00Maternity and neonatal services “cannot operate on the margins,” and deaths of babies and children must be investigated as a priority by NHS boards, the health and social care secretary has warned. By Emily Townsend2026-09-15T15:15:00 Maternity and neonatal services “cannot operate on the margins,” and deaths of babies and children must be investigated as a priority by NHS boards, the health and social care secretary has warned.
Health Service Journal •

Grasp ‘politically unpopular’ mergers or face more deaths

By Emily Townsend2026-09-15T04:09:00Politically unpopular and “very difficult” decisions are required to tackle rising maternal death rates and improve safety, a leading academic has warned. By Emily Townsend2026-09-15T04:09:00 Politically unpopular and “very difficult” decisions are required to tackle rising maternal death rates and improve safety, a leading academic has warned.
Health Service Journal •

CQC chair nearly said no to job

By Emily Townsend2026-09-09T12:11:00The government’s chosen candidate to chair the Care Quality Commission has revealed she initially turned the opportunity down, and that the regulator’s former chair had told her it was not a “great idea”. By Emily Townsend2026-09-09T12:11:00 The government’s chosen candidate to chair the Care Quality Commission has revealed she initially turned the opportunity down, and that the regulator’s former chair had told her it was not a “great idea”.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: ‘Landmark’ safety policy was barely tested before launch

By Emily Townsend2026-09-09T03:52:00The “Martha’s Rule for maternity services” was used just 13 times in a national pilot before being cited by government and adopted by ministers as a solution to the maternity crisis, HSJ can reveal. By Emily Townsend2026-09-09T03:52:00 The “Martha’s Rule for maternity services” was used just 13 times in a national pilot before being cited by government and adopted by ministers as a solution to the maternity crisis, HSJ can reveal.
Health Service Journal •

Many maternity units have ‘structural difficulties’, PM admits

By Emily Townsend2026-09-02T13:40:00The prime minister has admitted “structural difficulties” similar to those faced by a rural maternity unit recently forced to close over staff shortages are widespread across the NHS. By Emily Townsend2026-09-02T13:40:00 The prime minister has admitted “structural difficulties” similar to those faced by a rural maternity unit recently forced to close over staff shortages are widespread across the NHS.
Health Service Journal •

Revealed: Dozens of maternity units at risk of closure

By Emily Townsend2026-08-20T05:31:00A national NHS leader has told HSJ he expects more maternity units to close, while analysis suggests dozens face similar problems to a hospital where births were suspended this month. By Emily Townsend2026-08-20T05:31:00 A national NHS leader has told HSJ he expects more maternity units to close, while analysis suggests dozens face similar problems to a hospital where births were suspended this month.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: CQC ratings gap triples over a decade

By Emily Townsend2026-08-17T03:30:00The proportion of acute trusts with an overall Care Quality Commission rating that disagrees with at least one of their main hospital sites has tripled over the past decade, analysis reveals. By Emily Townsend2026-08-17T03:30:00 The proportion of acute trusts with an overall Care Quality Commission rating that disagrees with at least one of their main hospital sites has tripled over the past decade, analysis reveals.
HSJ Health Check podcast 🎙️ via SoundCloud •

HSJ Podcast: Maternity unit closures and AI scribe safety

New estimates have suggested the FDP could have a benefit value of £1.7bn less than a figure given by NHS England a year ago. We explore what has unfolded and what it could mean for the extension of the controversial Palantir contract next year. And the Health Services Safety Investigations Body announced an investigation into AI scribes in the NHS. Meanwhile, we discuss how a North Devon maternity unit is closing due to a lack of doctors, and what this means for elsewhere. Send thoughts and...
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