Sue Holden Appointed to National Panel Overseeing Maternity and Neonatal Services Assessment

We are proud to announce that Sue Holden, our Chair, has been appointed to the Maternity and Neonatal Assurance Assessment Oversight Panel, a newly formed expert group tasked with evaluating the safety and quality of maternity and neonatal services across Wales.

The panel, chaired by former Children’s Commissioner for Wales Professor Sally Holland, will provide real-time assurance and recommendations to the Welsh Government following concerns raised in recent reviews of maternity services, including those in Swansea Bay and other UK units.

Sue Holden brings a wealth of experience to the panel, having trained as both a nurse and midwife and worked clinically for 15 years. Her career includes senior leadership roles such as National Director for Intensive Support at NHS England and NHS Improvement, where she led national improvement initiatives across the NHS. Before becoming Chair, Sue was our Chief Executive here at Aqua.

On her appointment, Sue said:

 “I am honoured to be able to support the Welsh government in this important work. The opportunity to make a difference for women and staff now and in the future, integrating evidence and experience is exciting and timely.”

Sue’s appointment reflects a continued commitment to improving care quality and patient experience. She joins a distinguished group of professionals with expertise in obstetrics, neonatology, midwifery, family engagement, and healthcare regulation.

Aqua’s Chief Executive, Dr Susy Cook added:

 “We are incredibly proud of Sue Holden’s appointment to this vital panel. Her deep clinical experience and leadership in quality improvement make her an outstanding choice to help inform the future of maternity and neonatal care in Wales. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to meaningful change, and we’re confident Sue will bring insight, compassion and rigour to the work ahead.”

The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said:

 “This assessment will scrutinise maternity and neonatal services across Wales and provide recommendations for how they can be improved. I’ve appointed this panel, which has a wealth of expertise within their respective fields, across national health services, to provide invaluable advice aiming to improve both patient care and experience.”

Also part of the expert panel are:

• Ken Sutton – Previously the Director for Crime and Policing at the Home Office, and Secretary to the Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in East Kent.
• Heidi Smoult – Previously Chief Executive at Northampton General Hospital NHS and Deputy Chief Inspector at the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
• Dr Edile Murdoch – A consultant neonatologist in NHS Lothian Edinburgh and is one of the national specialty advisors for NHS England maternity and neonatal programme.
• Dr Jo Mountfield – A past chair of the specialty education advisory committee at the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists.
• Professor Mary Renfrew – A leading health researcher, with a clinical background in midwifery and was the lead adviser for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The panel is expected to deliver initial advice to the Health Secretary by the end of the year.