The NHS is rolling out a major overhaul of maternity care standards aimed at reducing preventable maternal deaths. This follows an MBRRACE-UK report finding that improvements in care could have changed outcomes in 45% of cases where women died between 2021 and 2023.
Blood clots are the leading cause of death during pregnancy, accounting for 17% of cases. Under the new standards, high-risk women will receive thromboprophylaxis within 72 hours.
Psychiatric causes make up 33% of deaths between six weeks and one year after childbirth. Routine mental health assessments and specialist referrals will now be standard.
Women with epilepsy will have access to personalized specialist services and safe seizure-control medications. Those experiencing hemorrhage will get earlier care from specialist obstetricians and anesthetists.
Up to £5 million has been allocated for upgraded equipment and telephone lines to speed transfers to labor wards. The new standards strengthen the role of 17 maternal medicine centers across England, each led by an obstetric physician.
The Maternal Outcomes Signal System (MOSS) will continuously monitor routine maternity data, publishing findings every six months to flag emerging safety concerns.
Full implementation is expected by March 2027, aiming to reduce deaths from thromboembolism, stroke, cardiac disease, sepsis, hemorrhage, and pre-eclampsia.