The latest MBRRACE Report has been published, and once again it shows no improvement in maternal death rates or in the stark inequalities that persist in the maternity sector.
Racial disparities remain unchanged, with Black and Asian women continuing to face disproportionately high risks. According to the report, women from Black ethnic backgrounds were still more than twice as likely to die compared to White women. These findings highlight the consequences of deepening inequalities, persistent violations of our human rights and the ongoing crisis in maternity services.
The report makes one thing clear; the dangers of not listening.
Too many recommendations continue to be framed around updating guidelines or standardised assessments. Unfortunately, this approach prioritises standardised assessments rather than addressing the fundamental issue: women and birthing people need to be listened to, they need respect for their rights and agency and personalised care. Mandating more assessments without tackling this underlying problem will not improve safety.
For Black, Brown, and marginalised communities, who are often too readily categorised as “high risk”, what is required is not more checklists but genuine listening, autonomy, and agency. A risk-obsessed approach only creates new risks. What is needed instead is continuity of care and personalised support, recognising that some women and birthing people may require longer appointments to build trust, coordinate care, and address individual needs.
That is why, while we welcome proposals for optional pathways, clearer guidance, and the offer of specialist referrals, we also know that serious consideration must be given to what happens when women and birthing people decline these offers or are unable to take them up. Care must remain flexible and responsive.
This is where continuity of care and carer is vital, ensuring safe, respectful, and individualised support throughout pregnancy and birth.
The report highlights a deeply concerning trend: late maternal deaths (those occurring between six weeks and one year after birth) have risen significantly, with mental health issues, including suicide, as the leading causes. This demands coordinated, holistic, community-based maternal and perinatal mental health services, with dedicated support for women and birthing people facing social care involvement, one of the most vulnerable groups, yet too often excluded from existing provision.
We recognise that a 10-year plan is underway, that national investigations are ongoing, and that a taskforce has been established. However, these measures alone will not resolve the crisis in maternity care. Greater transparency is needed in how investigations are carried out, and maternity and community organisations must be meaningfully involved in implementing the NHS 10-year plan, with a focus on centring the concerns of the most marginalised. We also expect the Maternity APPG to play an active role in addressing these urgent issues. Above all, we need decisive action now to ensure that improvements are delivered in the next report.
That is why we are calling on the Government to introduce a SAFE Maternity Care Act, an Act that places Safety, Accountability, Freedom of Choice, and Equity at the heart of the maternity system. Only by embedding these principles into law can we create a maternity service that truly upholds the human rights of all women and birthing people throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period.