POOR quality NHS maternity care will become “normalised” if action is not taken, the healthcare watchdog warned today.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) called for “increased national action” and ring-fenced investment to turn services around as it published the findings of 131 inspections across England.

“Although we’ve seen examples of good care and seen hard-working, compassionate staff doing their best, we remain concerned that key issues continue to impact quality and safety,” the CQC report says.