Paul Johnson, CEO Radar Healthcare, says that maternity care in the UK faces a pivotal moment. While the NHS has supported generations of families through safe and compassionate birth experiences, increasing pressures are now taking a toll. Workforce shortages, outdated policies, and substantial inequalities in outcomes are placing significant strain on the maternity care system, leaving some families without the care they deserve. However, he points out that these challenges also present a vital opportunity for change...
The consequences of failings in maternity care, both human and financial, are increasingly apparent. Since 2019, the NHS in England has incurred an estimated £27.4 billion in costs related to maternity care failings, significantly exceeding the £18 billion budget allocated for newborn care.
This financial burden is driven by a sharp increase in legal claims, which have nearly doubled to almost 1,400 annually by 2023. (The Guardian). With a projected £37.5 billion cost of future claims is more than a warning, it's a call for meaningful reform.
Alongside the growing financial burden, complaints about maternity services are rising sharply. Over a two-year period, more than 25,000 complaints were filed, with grievances related to maternity departments increasing by 16% — from 3,970 in 2020–21 to 4,610 in 2021–22 (Been Let Down?). The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman also reported that 84% of women felt healthcare professionals were not listening to them, with communication failures accounting for 65% of maternity complaints between 2020 and 2022 (ombudsman.org.uk).
Perhaps the most harrowing statistic is the significant rise in maternal mortality rates in the UK in recent years. From 2020 and 2022, the rate increased by over 50% compared to the previous three-year period, reaching 13.41 deaths per 100,000 births (University of Oxford). The COVID-19 pandemic and gaps in maternal healthcare have contributed to this increase, but persistent inequalities remain a critical factor. Black women face nearly triple the risk, and Asian women almost double the risk, of dying during or shortly after pregnancy compared to White women (MBRRACE-UK).
Data from recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections highlights the complex and varied landscape of maternity care. Between 2022 and 2024, the CQC inspected 131 maternity services across England and found that 47% were rated as requiring improvement, and 12% were found to be inadequate. Just 4% received an outstanding rating, while 48% were judged to be good.
However, the picture is not entirely negative. The reports also include examples of high-quality care, underpinned by strong leadership, collaborative team culture, and effective communication. These cases show that excellence is possible and that the foundations for system-wide transformation already exist.
Patients experience data further illustrates areas of improvement. In the CQC’s 2024 Maternity Survey of nearly 19,000 women, 76% said they were definitely asked about their mental health, up slightly from 75% the previous year. Access to support also improved, with 89% reporting they received help when needed, compared to 85% in 2022 (Care Quality Commission).
In response to persistent challenges, maternity care has become a national priority. Earlier this year, the government announced an NHS 10-Year Plan which sets out a long-term vision for safer, more equitable care for women and newborns. The plan highlights the rollout of a national virtual ward system, integrated into the NHS App and Single Patient Record (SPR) to locally store patient information. This has the potential to reshape maternity care, maternal health and make services more streamlined across the NHS.
Effective maternity care relies not only on clinical expertise but also on systems that help manage risk and drive continuous improvement. Technology such as Radar Healthcare’s platform integrates incident management, risk registers, and real-time analytics to help healthcare providers streamline administrative processes and focus on patient care. Additionally, it facilitates direct feedback collection from staff and patients to inform improvements and foster engagement. These tools contribute to the collaborative efforts required to improve maternity care outcomes.
As the UK continues to confront long-standing challenges in maternity care, World Patient Safety Day 2025 offers a timely moment for reflection. This year's theme “Safe care for every newborn and every child,” it is an important reminder that safety must begin at birth. The slogan for 2025, “Patient safety from the start!”, calls for urgent action to protect the youngest and most vulnerable. It underscores the need for respectful and rights-based maternity care, where safety is not defined by risk aversion, but by compassion and collaboration.
The challenges facing maternity care demand urgent reform and innovative solutions. By combining clinical expertise with advanced technology and collaborative approaches, we can build safer, more compassionate services that truly meet the needs of women, babies, and families.
For more information, visit: www.radarhealthcare.com/
