For the first time in over 50 years a roadmap for improvement of the maternity services in Ireland has been proposed. The National Maternity Strategy – Creating a Better Future Together promises to put women and their families at the very heart of how services are delivered. Published by the Department of Health on Jan 27th the strategy was developed by a team of women, midwives, and doctors on the recommendations of the HIQA reports into the care of Savita Halappanivar and the babies at the Midlands Hospital Portlaoise.