Rising Maternal Mortality Spurs Urgent Overhaul in Maternity Care
The NHS in England is mandating a sweeping transformation of maternity services to confront an alarming surge in pregnancy-related deaths. Recent figures reveal a 20% increase in maternal fatalities, with 252 deaths recorded between 2022 and 2024—equating to 12.8 deaths per 100,000 births, a stark rise from previous years.
Kate Brintworth, NHS England’s chief midwife, acknowledges the gap between current care standards and the urgent need to save lives. Speaking candidly, she emphasized, “None of us believe care is where it needs to be. We simply must do better.”
She expressed profound empathy for families enduring loss, calling it “one of the worst tragedies imaginable” and reaffirmed leadership’s commitment to drastically reduce avoidable maternal deaths.
Campaigners Demand Greater Accountability Amidst NHS Criticism
Yet, the Maternity Safety Alliance criticized the NHS response as lacking urgency and accountability. The group condemned Brintworth’s statements as “detached from the harsh realities women and families face” and accused the leadership of issuing “platitudes and false reassurances” instead of decisive action.
The Alliance demands transparent leadership and fundamental reforms, asserting that current NHS commitments fall short of delivering the critical change needed to protect mothers and newborns.
New NHS Measures Target Leading Causes of Maternal Deaths
As part of this bold initiative, the NHS will become the first healthcare system globally to offer early risk assessments for venous thromboembolism (VTE) to every pregnant woman before their initial antenatal appointment by March next year. VTE, involving dangerous blood clots in deep veins, stands as the leading cause of maternal mortality.
Women identified at high risk will receive preventive blood-thinning treatments within 72 hours to reduce clot formation.
By March 2027, the NHS plans to implement further critical reforms, including:
- Providing women with epilepsy tailored care via local specialist teams, seizure management plans, and timely access to pregnancy-safe medications.
- Routine mental health screenings during pregnancy with referrals to NHS perinatal mental health services when necessary.
- Accelerated specialist care for women suffering from postpartum haemorrhage, involving obstetricians and anaesthetists.
Tackling Maternal Suicide and Other Leading Death Causes
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has spotlighted the NHS’s “appalling culture of medical misogyny,” underpinning the urgency behind the revamped Women’s Health Strategy. The NHS expects these reforms to significantly curtail deaths caused by blood clots, strokes, cardiac disease, suicide, sepsis, obstetric haemorrhage, and pre-eclampsia—conditions responsible for over half of maternal deaths.
Notably, maternal suicide remains the leading cause of death between six weeks and one year postpartum, accounting for 33% of fatalities during this period from 2022 to 2024. The NHS’s enhanced mental health screening aims to address this critical issue head-on.
