More mothers and babies are dying despite vows to improve maternity care, a damning report shows.
An independent study of maternal deaths found that the number of women who died during pregnancy and up to six weeks after giving birth increased by a quarter since 2017-2019.
Between 2018 and 2020, around 229 women died along with 27 of their babies, with many of the deaths being “preventable”.
A report led by Oxford University experts shows the number of women dying during pregnancy and soon after childbirth is increasing (stock photo)
A further 289 women died between six weeks and a year after the end of pregnancy in 2018-2020, according to a study published in Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Inquiries in the UK.
Led by experts from the University of Oxford, yesterday’s report specifically examined trends in maternal mortality after childbirth. It appeared that the number of cases increased by 19 percent, even after those who died of Covid-19 were excluded.
Only 22 percent of the deceased women were “well” cared for, the report states. Maternal suicide accounted for four out of ten deaths within one year of the end of pregnancy and was the leading cause of death.
Only 22 percent of deceased women were “well” cared for, report finds (archive image)
The stark assessment of maternal care comes weeks after a disturbing inquest found at least 45 babies died needlessly as a result of “catastrophic” and “profound” neglect in care at East Kent’s hospitals. Dr. Bill Kirkup, who led the inquiry, called for a new law to prosecute organizations for covering up future tragedies.
Last night, charities said families were being let down by “unacceptable” levels of care and urged ministers to do more to meet a pledge to halve deaths by 2025. Kath Abrahams, chief executive of Tommy, said she was “shocked to see that the numbers are going in the wrong direction”.
An NHS spokesman said more women than ever were taking advantage of specialist perinatal mental health services, with almost 45,000 seeking support last year – an increase of more than a quarter on the previous year.
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Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
