Maternal death rate rises in the UK

Research recently published by MBRRACE-UK, the body which audits deaths among women and babies in the UK, has shown that between 2022 and 2024 the overall rate of maternal deaths in the UK has increased by 20% from the rate between 2009 and 2011. Sadly, the figures show that more women are dying during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth compared to over a decade ago.

The research, which was led by the University of Oxford, is set out in MBRRACE-UK’s report Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care 2025 - Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity. The study examined the deaths of women between January 2022 and December 2024 during pregnancy or within six weeks afterward. The study found there were 252 maternal deaths between 2022 and 2024. During this period, most women died from treatable pregnancy-related conditions, including blood clots, bleeding and pre-eclampsia, an increase of 52%, whilst around a third died by suicide.

The number of deaths caused by pre-existing medical conditions remained largely unchanged (3% increase). Exclusion of maternal deaths due to COVID-19 only minimally reduced maternal mortality figures.

The rise in maternal deaths comes despite a pledge by the Conservative Government in 2015 to halve the rate of maternal mortality in England by 2025 (brought forward from 2030 in 2017).

To help reduce maternal deaths, NHS England (NHSE) has published the Maternal Care Bundle (MCB), which sets out best practice standards across five areas of maternal care and aims to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity and inequalities across the country.

The MCB focuses on the following key clinical areas, which stakeholders have agreed can be rapidly improved by intervention where adverse outcomes are identified:

1. Venous thromboembolism
2. Pre-hospital and acute care
3. Epilepsy in pregnancy
4. Maternal mental health
5. Obstetric haemorrhage

All trusts providing maternity services and integrated care boards must meet the new MCB standards by March 2027.

NHSE’s chief midwifery officer, Kate Brintworth, said: 

“These figures are deeply saddening and highlight how much more work is needed to prevent more deaths and address the unacceptable inequalities that persist for families across the country.

That is why this week we have set out new best practice standards across maternity services, including to ensure earlier and more consistent assessment for blood clots, and improved identification and care for perinatal mental health concerns. Alongside this, the NHS is continuing to strengthen maternity care through specialist treatment centres.”

Given the urgent need to improve maternal care and reduce maternal mortality in the UK, the MCB will provide an important tool to help trusts identify adverse maternal outcomes and take swift action to improve care.