The number of babies delivered at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has declined by nearly 18% over the last decade, according to new data. In the year ending March 2024, approximately 4,690 births were recorded, down from 5,724 a decade prior, highlighting a worrying trend in maternity care. This decline follows revelations from a national report indicating “unacceptable care” in NHS maternity units, with some women reportedly left to “bleed out” in bathrooms and instances of avoidable infant deaths.
The report, led by Baroness Valerie Amos as part of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, involved conversations with over 170 families across England, including those affected by care failings. The findings raise questions about the quality and reliability of maternity services across the country.
National Trends in Births and Caesarean Rates
The latest figures from NHS England reveal that nationwide, there were 542,235 births in the year to March 2024, a slight decrease from 545,149 the previous year and a 15% decline since 2015. At Portsmouth, the percentage of deliveries via caesarean section has increased; 43% of births were caesarean in 2024, compared to 25% in 2015. Emergency caesareans rose to 22%, up from 16% nearly a decade ago. Nationally, 45% of births were delivered by caesarean in 2024, an increase from 27% a decade earlier.
Dr. Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, noted that there are “varied and complex factors” contributing to the rise in caesarean deliveries. She emphasized the need for hospitals to be adequately prepared, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, training, and facilities to manage increasingly complex births.
Baroness Amos’s report highlights over 748 recommendations regarding maternity and neonatal care issued by the NHS in the past ten years, a figure she termed “staggering.” She questioned why, despite extensive reviews, England continues to struggle with providing safe and reliable maternity and neonatal care.
Calls for Improvement and Equity in Care
Professor Ranee Thakar, immediate past president of the RCOG, stressed the urgent need for improvement in maternity services. She pointed out that chronic understaffing, insufficient training time, and outdated equipment have led to harm for both mothers and babies, driving staff away from the profession. Thakar urged the government to remain focused on addressing funding and workforce shortages.
Concerns about maternal health equity were raised by Nuffield Trust fellow Bea Taylor, who highlighted disparities in outcomes, especially among Black and Asian women, who experience higher rates of emergency caesareans. She stated, “This raises urgent questions about equity, quality of care, and trust in the system.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the distressing accounts from families affected by maternity care failures. He stated, “Too many families have been let down, with devastating consequences,” expressing confidence in NHS staff while emphasizing the need for systemic improvements to prevent further tragedies.
An NHS spokesperson attributed the increase in caesarean births to various factors, including women’s choices, rising rates of pre-existing health conditions, and complications associated with pregnancies. They asserted that the priority remains the safety and well-being of both mothers and babies, with decisions regarding birthing methods made through informed discussions tailored to individual circumstances.
The significant decline in births at Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, coupled with increasing caesarean rates and troubling reports of care quality, underscores the pressing need for comprehensive reforms in maternity services across the UK.
