UK Maternal Mortality Rate Rises 20% Despite Pledges to Reduce It

The rate of women dying during or shortly after pregnancy in the UK has increased by 20% over the last decade, a development experts are calling “an absolute tragedy.” This rise occurs despite previous government commitments to substantially reduce maternal deaths.

Broken Promises: A Look Back at Government Goals

In 2015,then-Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt vowed to reduce maternal deaths by 50% by 2030,aiming to make the NHS “one of the safest places in the world to have a baby.” He later accelerated this target to 2025. Tho, recent data reveals these goals have not been met.

The Data: A Concerning trend

figures from MBRRACE-UK, a research project led by the University of Oxford, demonstrate that the maternal mortality rate has increased during the Conservative government’s 14 years in power. Specifically, the rate rose by 20% between 2009-11 and 2022-24.

The increase isn’t uniform across all causes of death. While deaths from pre-existing conditions exacerbated by pregnancy remained relatively stable (up 3%), deaths directly linked to pregnancy – including those from bleeding, blood clots, and pre-eclampsia – surged by 52%.

Leading Cause of Death: Blood Clots

The most common cause of maternal death during pregnancy or within six weeks postpartum was blood clots. These are frequently enough treatable if identified and addressed promptly.

Inequalities in Maternal Care

The data also highlights meaningful disparities in maternal mortality rates:

• Racial Disparities: Black women experienced a nearly threefold higher death rate compared to white women. Asian women also faced a greater risk.
• Socioeconomic Disparities: Women in the most deprived areas of the UK had a maternal death rate almost double that of those in the least deprived areas.
• Age-Related Disparities: Women aged 35 or older were nearly twice as likely to die during or shortly after pregnancy than those aged 25-29.

Expert Reactions and Concerns

Health leaders and campaigners express shock at the increase, stating that something has “gone badly wrong” within the maternity system. Dr. Kim Thomas, CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, emphasized that many of these deaths are preventable, particularly those stemming from treatable complications like pre-eclampsia and blood clots. She noted that women are often reporting life-threatening conditions being missed.

The Royal college of midwives (RCM) attributes the rise to the immense pressure on maternity services and a lack of investment. Clare Livingstone, Head of Professional Policy and Practice at the RCM, stated that the lack of progress is “unacceptable” and that women are being failed by a system stretched to its limits.

Livingstone further stressed that until NHS maternity services are adequately resourced and staffing shortages are addressed, preventable harm will continue to occur.

Key Takeaways

• The UK has seen a 20% increase in maternal mortality over the last decade.
• Government pledges to halve maternal deaths by 2025 have not been met.
• Deaths directly related to pregnancy have increased significantly, particularly those from blood clots.
• Significant racial and socioeconomic inequalities exist in maternal healthcare.
• Understaffing and lack of resources within the NHS maternity system are major contributing factors.

This concerning trend demands immediate attention and investment in maternity services to ensure the safety and well-being of all pregnant women in the UK. Addressing systemic issues and inequalities is crucial to reversing this alarming rise in maternal mortality.