Dr Christine Ekechi
Expert Advisor, National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
About this event
- Date and time Tue 28 Jul 2026 from 5:45pm to 6:45pm
- Location Online
Join the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) for a timely spotlight webinar exploring the findings and recommendations from the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation and what they mean for healthcare professionals working across maternity and neonatal services. Led by expert obstetric advisor, Dr Christine Ekechi, this webinar will examine how the investigation’s conclusions could shape the future of maternity care in England.
Patient safety concerns surrounding maternity care have remained in the public spotlight, shaped by a series of high-profile inquiries into maternity failings, prompting a series of meetings with the Secretary of State that led to the establishment of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The investigation aimed to drive improvements in patient care and provide answers for affected families by examining maternity and neonatal services across 12 NHS Trusts and using the experiences of women and families to inform recommendations on reducing inequalities, strengthening accountability and improving care.
The final report, published on 30 June 2026, is likely to become an important landmark for maternity and neonatal care and this webinar is designed as a rapid-response event following publication of the report, ensuring healthcare professionals can understand the findings, recommendations and implications on practice.
Speaker abstract
Dr Christine Ekechi is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and a specialist in acute gynaecology and early pregnancy. After graduating from St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London Medical School in 2004, Dr Christine Ekechi completed specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology within the North West Thames programme before being appointed Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in 2015.
Dr Ekechi has also been recognised for her advocacy work addressing gender and racial inequalities in healthcare, including being the co-chair of the Race Equality Taskforce at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a trustee for gynaecological cancer charity, The Eve Appeal and on the Multi-Professional Advisory Panel for Baby Lifeline, supporting improvements in care for pregnant women and newborn babies.
Alongside her experience at the forefront of maternity care and interest in the social drivers of health inequalities and healthcare delivery, Dr Ekechi was appointed by the Secretary of State as expert obstetric advisor to support Baroness Valerie Amos for a rapid review of maternity and neonatal services in England to assess the quality of care in England's maternity sectors and provide recommendations to improve service delivery and patient outcomes making her exceptionally well placed to speak on the themes covered in this webinar.
Key topics:
- The findings of The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
- Recommendations for maternity and neonatal services in England
- The practical implications of the recommendations for healthcare professionals
- Patient safety and accountability in maternity care
- Reducing inequalities in maternity and neonatal environments
- The future direction of maternity and neonatal services in England
Who should attend?
This webinar is particularly relevant to:
- Obstetricians and gynaecologists
- Midwives and neonatal nurses
- GPs with an interest in maternity care
- Neonatologists and paediatricians
- Patient safety leads and clinical governance teams
- Healthcare leaders and trust executives with responsibility for maternity and neonatal services
- Policymakers and those working in health policy and regulation
- Anyone with a professional or personal interest in maternity safety, health inequalities or the future of neonatal care in England.
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Tickets
Standard pricing available until 28 July 2026.
Member
| RSM Associate | RSM Fellow | RSM Resident Doctor | RSM Retired Fellow | RSM Student |
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| £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
Non - Member
| Resident Doctor | Consultant / GP / SAS Doctors | Other HCPs | Student |
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Key speakers
Agenda
View the programme
Welcome and introduction
Professor Gillian Leng CBE, President, Royal Society of Medicine
Presentation: The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
Dr Christine Ekechi, Expert Advisor, National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Questions and answers
Closing remarks
Professor Gillian Leng CBE
Close of meeting
Location
Online
Registration for this webinar will close 1 hour before the scheduled start time. Registered delegates will receive the webinar access link approximately 1 hour before the event. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Where the webinar is recorded, recordings will be available to registered delegates for up to 60 days following the live event, subject to speaker permission. Access details will be shared within 24 hours of the webinar.
This webinar will be recorded and stored by the Royal Society of Medicine and may be distributed in the future via RSM digital channels.
