How to Write a Complaint Letter About Maternity Discrimination
Why writing a complaint letter about maternity discrimination matters
Experiencing maternity discrimination can be deeply upsetting. Whether it happened during pregnancy, your return to work, or while navigating maternity care, you may be left feeling unheard, dismissed, or unsure of your rights. Many women describe the same worry: “Is this really discrimination, or am I overreacting?”
You’re not overreacting. Maternity discrimination is a recognised issue in the UK, and unfortunately, it happens more often than most people realise. Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that many pregnant women and new mothers experience unfair treatment at work or during care. Some are ignored when raising concerns, others feel pressured into unsafe decisions, and some feel punished for needing time off due to pregnancy-related health issues.
A clear, well-structured complaint letter is one of the most effective ways to ensure your concerns are taken seriously. It creates a written record, invites a proper investigation, and helps you advocate for yourself with confidence.
This guide explains how to write a maternity discrimination complaint letter in a way that is calm, factual, and effective, while supporting your emotional wellbeing along the way.
(For background on maternity rights, see the Equality Act 2010 and relevant GOV.UK guidance.)
Understanding maternity discrimination in the UK
Maternity discrimination can occur in different settings, including the workplace and maternity care services. While this guide is written mainly for women raising concerns within maternity care settings, the same principles apply elsewhere.
You may have experienced maternity discrimination if you were:
Ignored when raising safety concerns
Spoken to disrespectfully because of your pregnancy
Pressured into decisions about your birth or postnatal care
Denied pain relief or assessments without explanation
Treated unfairly because you needed time off for pregnancy-related illness
Excluded from discussions or decision-making
Dismissed when raising concerns about symptoms or mental health
Maternity discrimination is illegal under the Equality Act 2010, which protects pregnant women and new mothers from unfavourable treatment.
(See: GOV.UK - Pregnancy and maternity discrimination.)
Understanding whether your experience meets the legal criteria can be tricky. Many women only realise later, once someone has helped them review their care, that what they experienced wasn’t acceptable.
That’s one of the reasons independent support can be so helpful before you write your complaint.
Before you start: gathering information
A strong complaint letter is grounded in facts. Before you sit down to write, spend some time gathering what you need.
Request your maternity notes
You have the right to request your maternity records from your NHS Trust. These can help you understand the timeline of events.
Write down your own account
Capture your memory of events while they’re still fresh. What happened? Who was present? How did it make you feel?
Keep any supporting material
Emails, appointment letters, texts, or photos can all help build a clear picture.
Consider an independent review
If you’re unsure whether what you experienced counts as discrimination or substandard care, an independent maternity care review can provide clarity.
This is where Eleanor Healer’s Independent Maternity Care Review service is invaluable. She offers impartial, compassionate assessments of your maternity notes and experience, helping you understand whether your care met expected professional standards and whether a complaint is justified.
Learn more about the Independent Maternity Care Review service here.
How to structure your maternity discrimination complaint letter
A well-organised complaint letter improves your chances of receiving a meaningful response. Here’s a structure you can follow to express your concerns clearly and respectfully.
1. Start with your personal details
Include:
Full name
Date of birth
NHS number (if known)
Hospital or team involved
Relevant dates
2. Explain why you are writing
State that you are submitting a formal complaint regarding maternity discrimination. Keep it calm and factual.
Example:
“I am writing to raise concerns about maternity discrimination I believe I experienced during my antenatal and labour care at [Hospital Name] on [Dates].”
3. Describe what happened
This is the core of your letter. Explain events in order. Include:
What was said or done
Who was involved
How you were treated
Any witnesses present
The impact it had on you physically and emotionally
Try to avoid overly emotional language. The strength of your complaint comes from clarity rather than intensity.
4. Explain why this was discriminatory
Link your experience to the standards expected. You may wish to reference:
NHS maternity guidelines
Equality Act 2010
Professional conduct standards
You don’t need legal jargon. Simply explain why the treatment felt unfair, unsafe, or related to your pregnancy or maternity status.
5. Include supporting evidence
Refer to maternity notes, timelines, emails, or anything else that helps clarify your experience.
6. Explain what you want to happen next
You don’t need to know the perfect “resolution”. A simple statement is enough.
Examples include:
A clear explanation of what happened
An apology
Assurance that learning will be shared
Confirmation of any actions taken to improve care
7. End the letter politely
A firm yet respectful tone encourages constructive communication.
Example paragraph you can adapt
Here’s a sample paragraph that families often use as a starting point:
“I am submitting this complaint as I believe I was treated unfavourably because of my pregnancy. My concerns about reduced movement were repeatedly dismissed despite my clear requests for assessment. This caused unnecessary distress and left me feeling unsafe. I would like this matter investigated so that I can better understand what happened and how similar experiences can be prevented.”
You can adapt this to reflect your own experience in your own words.
Tips for writing with confidence
Try not to minimise your experience
You don’t need to prove discrimination for the complaint to be taken seriously
Take breaks if writing becomes emotional
Ask a trusted person to read through your letter
Keep a copy of everything you send
What happens after you submit your complaint
Once your complaint is received, the NHS Trust should:
Acknowledge it within three working days
Offer a discussion about the investigation process
Review your maternity notes and speak with relevant staff
Provide a written response that addresses each concern
If you feel the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, you can escalate it to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) for an independent review.
(See: PHSO guidance on making a complaint.)
How independent support can make your complaint stronger
Not everyone feels confident writing a complaint letter on their own. Some don’t know where to start, while others worry about getting the details right.
This is where Eleanor’s support makes a remarkable difference. Her Independent Maternity Care Review helps families:
Understand their care clearly
Identify whether discrimination or substandard care occurred
Decide whether to complain or seek legal advice
Frame their concerns in a clear and structured way
Families often say her insight gives them the confidence they need to move forward without fear or confusion.
Explore the Independent Maternity Care Review service.
Helpful external links
A final note
Writing a complaint letter about maternity discrimination can feel intimidating, especially when you’re already carrying the emotional weight of a difficult experience. But you deserve to be heard. You deserve clarity, respect, and answers that make sense.
Support exists, and you don’t have to take any of these steps alone.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace legal or clinical advice.