Emily Townsend

Health Service Journal • 22nd October 2026

Surge in complaints about children’s care and refusal to refer

By Emily Townsend2026-10-22T11:36:00Complaints about paediatric care and GPs refusing to make referrals to specialist services leapt over the past year, HSJ analysis suggests, as overall concerns hit record levels. By Emily Townsend2026-10-22T11:36:00 Complaints about paediatric care and GPs refusing to make referrals to specialist services leapt over the past year, HSJ analysis suggests, as overall concerns hit record levels.

Health Service Journal • 21st October 2026

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 • 21st October 2026

Revealed: 10 child deaths investigated at trust facing prosecution

By Emily Townsend2026-10-21T09:03:00An independent review into 10 child fatalities has identified fundamental governance and sepsis care failings at an embattled trust, HSJ has discovered. By Emily Townsend2026-10-21T09:03:00 An independent review into 10 child fatalities has identified fundamental governance and sepsis care failings at an embattled trust, HSJ has discovered.

Health Service Journal • 17th October 2026

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 • 14th October 2026

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 • 13th October 2026

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 • 8th October 2026

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.

Health Service Journal • 6th October 2026

‘Organisational shame’ driving defensive behaviour at inquiry trust

By Emily Townsend2026-10-06T03:23:00Staff at a trust subject to a statutory inquiry are paralysed by fear, a review has discovered. By Emily Townsend2026-10-06T03:23:00 Staff at a trust subject to a statutory inquiry are paralysed by fear, a review has discovered.

Health Service Journal • 29th September 2026

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 • 28th September 2026

Safety leaders ‘battling challenging political narrative’

By Emily Townsend2026-09-28T13:21:00NHS England’s patient safety chief has said the service is having to “battle against a narrative” that it has not improved safety. By Emily Townsend2026-09-28T13:21:00 NHS England’s patient safety chief has said the service is having to “battle against a narrative” that it has not improved safety.

Health Service Journal • 16th September 2026

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 • 15th September 2026

Inquiry chief delivers scathing verdict on NHS managers

By Emily Townsend2026-09-15T11:41:00Too many managers do not meet the standards expected of them, and there is an “urgent” need to improve quality, a major inquiry has found. By Emily Townsend2026-09-15T11:41:00 Too many managers do not meet the standards expected of them, and there is an “urgent” need to improve quality, a major inquiry has found.

Health Service Journal • 15th September 2026

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 • 9th September 2026

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 • 9th September 2026

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 • 7th September 2026

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 • 1st September 2026

ICBs must retain some responsibility for trust performance, says CEO

By Emily Townsend2026-08-26T05:55:00Integrated care boards must continue to be involved in improving the performance of provider trusts, an ICB chief executive has claimed. By Emily Townsend2026-08-26T05:55:00 Integrated care boards must continue to be involved in improving the performance of provider trusts, an ICB chief executive has claimed.

Health Service Journal • 20th August 2026

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 • 17th August 2026

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 • 14th August 2026

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...