Dr Bill Kirkup, an influential expert advisor, has stepped down from the national maternity care review led by Baroness Amos, just ahead of the publication of its report, which is expected on Monday. The development was first reported by the Health Service Journal.
Dr Kirkup is regarded as a formidable figure in maternity circles, having previously carried out the investigations into failings at Morecambe Bay and East Kent. His departure from the review has drawn attention given his prominence in the field.
According to the Health Service Journal, a letter was shared with families in which Baroness Amos informed them that Dr Kirkup had stepped down ahead of the report's publication. The report had been under embargo before its planned release.
It is understood that the resignation actually took place about a week earlier, while the draft report was being prepared. At the heart of the disagreement was a dispute over what is known as normal birth ideology, a contentious issue in maternity care.
The national review set out to investigate maternity care and the headline problems associated with it. Baroness Amos visited 12 NHS trusts, and the work is expected to produce 12 individual trust reports examining care at each.
Concerns have also been raised about the scope of the review. As with a previous major maternity inquiry, regulators fall outside the remit of Baroness Amos, despite criticism about the lack of governance and systems to oversee maternity care.
In a statement, Baroness Amos addressed the matter of the conclusions on normal birth ideology for inclusion in the final report, and said she remained grateful for Dr Kirkup's hard work and commitment.
The full report is due to be published imminently, with Baroness Amos expected to discuss its findings publicly. The resignation of one of her most influential advisors has placed added scrutiny on how the review reached its conclusions.