The BBC has reported that an inquiry into traumatic childbirths has called for an overhaul of maternity and postnatal care in the UK.
The birth trauma inquiry
Birth trauma affects 30,000 women in the UK every year.
Research shows that around 4-5% of women develop post-traumatic stress disorder after giving birth. Studies have found that a much larger number of women, as many as one in three, find some aspects of their birth experience traumatic.
- 53% of women who experienced birth trauma are less likely to have children in the future.
- 84% of women who experienced tears during birth did not receive enough information about birth injuries ahead of time.
In January 2024, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on birth trauma in the UK Parliament set up an inquiry into the reasons for traumatic birth, and to develop policy recommendations to reduce the rate of birth trauma.
The Birth Trauma Inquiry aimed to find out more about the experiences of women who have been affected by traumatic birth. It invited submissions from parents and from professionals who work in maternity and was open to everyone in the UK.
Inquiry findings
The response to the call for submissions was overwhelming.
The Birth Trauma Inquiry heard evidence from 1,300 women, with some who said they were left in blood-soaked sheets while others said their children had suffered life-changing injuries due to medical negligence.
Tory MP Theo Clarke, who chaired the Inquiry, and who herself has experienced a traumatic birth, spoke to BBC Radio 4 Today programme, and said that there was a “postcode lottery” for maternity care in the UK.
She said:
“I don’t think it is acceptable – that depending on where you live, you will literally be offered a different level of care in terms of how you’re given support during childbirth and afterwards.”
Inquiry report
The resulting report from the Inquiry included 12 recommendations in total, including:
- A call for a “base standard in maternity services” across the UK and an end to the postcode lottery of perinatal care.
- A call for mothers to be given universal access to specialist maternal mental health services.
- Urging the Government to outline how it would recruit, train, and retain more midwives, obstetricians, and anaesthetists to ensure safe levels of staffing in maternity services.
- A suggestion to provide support for fathers and ensure that a nominated birth partner is continuously informed and updated during labour and post-delivery.
- For mother’s health records to be digitised.
Government response
Further to the Inquiry outcome, Women’s Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, said that they would need to look at the report and consider whether a maternity commissioner would make a difference to maternity care in the UK.
She said that the number of midwives was being increased, and that five of the recommendations of the Inquiry had already been addressed.
Health Secretary, Ms Atkins, said:
“I am determined to improve the quality and consistency of care for women throughout pregnancy, birth, and the critical months that follow, and I fully support work to develop a comprehensive national strategy to improve our maternity services.”
“We are now investing £186m a year more than in 2021 to improve maternity and neonatal care, and we announced an extra £35 million at the Spring Budget to boost maternity safety, with more midwives and better training.”
NHS response
The NHS has told the BBC that it is working with all Trusts with maternity services on a national programme to create a culture where women are listened to, and care is safe.
Chief Executive of the NHS, Ms Pritchard, said:
“We know there is more that can be done to prevent and improve support for birth trauma, which is why we are committed to working with the Department for Health and Social Care on a cross-government strategy to build on the NHS three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, so that we can continue to make care safer and more personalised for women and babies.”
Comment
In this day and age, to see that there is a vast difference between the level of maternity care to be expected depending simply on location is just not good enough.
This is a deeply disturbing outcome to the Inquiry, and the volume of submissions speaks to the crisis we are currently witnessing in maternity services across the UK.
All expectant mothers and their loved ones have the right to expect the same standard of care, to feel safe, and supported throughout their pregnancy journey.
It is clear that the Birth Trauma Inquiry has highlighted a number of issues, but also made key recommendations and suggestions which must be given consideration as a matter of urgency.
How can Nelsons help
Danielle Young is a Legal Director in our Medical Negligence team, which is ranked in Tier One by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500, and Commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2024.
If you have any questions about the subjects discussed in this article, please contact Danielle or another team member in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online enquiry form.