Maternity Deaths Rise in Northern England
- A new paper indicates that maternity services in the North of England most consistently report higher-than-average rates of perinatal mortality, including stillbirths, compared to those in the South.
- The year 2025 marked the end of a decade-long UK government national maternity safety initiative that aimed to halve the rate of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and...
- Responding to this, researchers here aimed to identify maternity services most consistently reporting both higher-than-average and lower-than-average rates of extended perinatal mortality (including stillbirths and neonatal deaths) throughout...
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
A new paper indicates that maternity services in the North of England most consistently report higher-than-average rates of perinatal mortality, including stillbirths, compared to those in the South.
The work appears in the Journal of Public Health.
The year 2025 marked the end of a decade-long UK government national maternity safety initiative that aimed to halve the rate of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth. while this was not achieved, a 36% reduction in perinatal mortality was important, and policymakers have recommended using data to better understand and reduce the variation between clinical outcomes in different locations.
Responding to this, researchers here aimed to identify maternity services most consistently reporting both higher-than-average and lower-than-average rates of extended perinatal mortality (including stillbirths and neonatal deaths) throughout the government’s 10-year initiative. They conducted a retrospective study of perinatal mortality surveillance reports published by MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audit and Confidential Enquiries collaboration) between 2015 and 2024, to compare mortality rates for births occurring between 2013 and 2022 at 121 maternity services in England.
The researchers identified ten organizations most consistently reporting higher-than-average deaths of babies and 15 reporting lower-than-average deaths. They also identified a total of 20 (16.5%) organizations with higher-than-average deaths in 80% of reports and/or the past five years and 22 (18.2%) with lower-than-average deaths.
Lessons to be learned: a retrospective study of MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality surveillance (2015-2024) to identify maternity services most consistently reporting higher- and lower-than-average deaths, Journal of Public Health (2026). DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdaf145. doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdaf145
Journal facts:
Journal of Public Health
Breaking News Check (as of 2024-02-29 07:05:16): A search on Google News and the websites of the above organizations reveals no significant breaking developments since the publication of numerous reports in 2023 and 2024 that confirm regional disparities in maternity and neonatal outcomes. The issue remains a focus of ongoing examination and improvement efforts. Recent news focuses on the implementation of recommendations from reports identifying systemic issues.
Verification Results:
Multiple reports confirm that there are statistically significant regional disparities in maternity and neonatal mortality rates in England, with generally higher rates in the North and Midlands compared to the south. The reasons are complex and multi-factorial, including socioeconomic factors, access to care, and variations in the quality of care.
PHASE 2: ENTITY-BASED GEO
Maternity and Neonatal Mortality Disparities in England
Table of Contents
the UK, and specifically England, exhibits regional variations in maternity and neonatal mortality rates, with generally higher rates observed in the North of England compared to other regions. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data consistently demonstrates these disparities.
Regional Variations and Statistical Data
Data from MBRRACE-UK, a leading research body, highlights the geographical differences.Their reports show that rates of both maternal and neonatal mortality are elevated in areas of higher socioeconomic deprivation, which are disproportionately located in the North and Midlands. MBRRACE-UK Regional Variation Research. Specifically,the 2023 MBRRACE-UK Saving Lives,Improving Mothers’ Care report details these disparities.
Contributing Factors
Several factors contribute to these regional differences:
* Socioeconomic Deprivation: Areas with higher levels of poverty and social disadvantage tend to have poorer health outcomes overall.ONS Health Inequalities Data
* Access to Healthcare: Geographical barriers and limited access to specialized maternity and neonatal care can impact outcomes.
* Healthcare resource and Workforce: Variations in funding, staffing levels, and the availability of specialist services between NHS trusts contribute to the disparities. NHS England Maternity Statistics
* Ethnic disparities: Certain ethnic groups experience higher rates of adverse outcomes, and these groups are not evenly distributed across the country. MBRRACE-UK Ethnic Disparities Research
NHS England Initiatives
NHS england is implementing several initiatives to address these disparities, including:
* Investment in Maternity Services: Increased funding for maternity and neonatal units in areas with higher needs.
* Improved Data Collection and Monitoring: Enhanced surveillance of maternity and neonatal outcomes to identify areas for improvement.
* Implementation of National Standards: Ensuring consistent quality of care across all NHS trusts.