NHS Alliance warns England’s maternity units risk closure amid safety concerns

NHS Alliance officials argue that England’s maternity care system is “not fit for purpose,” with safety compromised by insufficient specialist staff, a surge in C-sections and outdated infrastructure. They recommend consolidating services, noting that hospitals handling between 1,500 and 2,000 births a year—particularly those in rural or coastal locations—could be forced to shut. The Department of Health and Social Care’s taskforce is expected to tackle these strategic issues, including the higher mortality rates among Black and Asian women and worse outcomes in deprived areas.

Recent suspensions of birthing services at a Devon hospital, which now requires mothers to travel 53 miles to Exeter, highlight the pressure on smaller units. Catherine Mchomvu of the Devon Antenatal Family Centre warns that closures would disrupt continuity of care. Matthew Hopkins, director of the NHS Alliance’s acute and ambulance network, calls for political courage to prioritise patient safety.