Recent data reveals a troubling increase in serious birth injuries among women in England, raising alarms about the quality of maternity care. With the number of women experiencing severe tears and postpartum haemorrhages reaching unprecedented levels, health officials are calling for immediate action to address what has been labelled a “national crisis” in maternity services.
Alarming Statistics on Birth Injuries
NHS figures indicate that the rate of women suffering from the most severe type of perineal tears during childbirth has surged to 31.1 per 1,000 births in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest figure since monitoring began in 2020. Additionally, postpartum haemorrhage rates have also escalated, with 31.2 women per 1,000 experiencing significant blood loss during childbirth in 2025, a record high within the five years of data collection.
Helen Morgan, health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, emphasised the human cost behind these statistics, stating, “Behind these statistics are women going through unimaginable trauma, requiring surgery and in many cases months or even years of recovery. Some will never fully recover.” She insists that maternity services must be treated as a critical issue, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise safety to reverse the disturbing trends of rising injuries.
The Government’s Response
As pressure mounts, NHS leaders and government officials are gearing up for the imminent release of Lady Amos’s report, commissioned to assess the current state of childbirth care. This report is anticipated to further underscore the necessity for comprehensive changes in maternity services, which have garnered significant criticism for their inadequacies.
Speculation is rife regarding the potential appointment of Donna Ockenden, a renowned midwife and childbirth safety expert, as the inaugural maternity commissioner. Ockenden has previously exposed significant failings within the NHS’s maternity system, including a recent investigation into the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust scandal. Her expected role would involve overseeing essential improvements in the quality and safety of maternity care.
Incomplete Data Hinders Improvement
Compounding the challenges in maternity care is the concerning rate of incomplete birth records within the NHS. Recent investigations have revealed that over 85,000 births—accounting for 14.8% of total deliveries in 2024-25—lacked crucial outcome data, including delivery methods, birth weights, and gestational ages. This data gap severely limits the ability to identify areas needing urgent attention and improvements.
Clare Livingstone from the Royal College of Midwives has highlighted the importance of comprehensive data in enhancing maternity care. She stated, “Incomplete data is a fundamental barrier to improving maternity care. Without a full picture of what is happening before, during, and after birth, it is much harder to identify where action is needed.”
The Road Ahead
In response to the rising rates of birth injuries, the Department of Health and Social Care expressed serious concerns about the quality of maternity care. A spokesperson remarked, “These are concerning findings… too many women are being failed by poor quality maternity care.” In light of these issues, the government has decided to extend Martha’s Rule to all maternity and neonatal units in England, empowering women and families to seek second opinions regarding their care.
As maternity services face increasing scrutiny, the government is planning to unveil an action plan aimed at transforming the quality of care by the end of the year. However, there are growing calls for more immediate transparency regarding these plans.
Why it Matters
The surge in serious birth injuries reflects a broader systemic failure within England’s maternity services, underscoring the urgent need for reform. Women and families deserve safe, high-quality care during one of the most significant periods of their lives. Addressing these issues is not merely a matter of improving statistics; it is about ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and their newborns across the nation. The response of health officials and the government in the coming months will be crucial in shaping the future of maternity care in England.
