The number of babies delivered at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has decreased by nearly a fifth over the past decade, according to new figures. In the year leading up to March 2024, approximately 4,690 babies were born at the facility, marking a slight decline from 4,800 births the previous year and an 18% reduction from 5,724 births a decade ago.
This decline coincides with a national report that highlighted serious issues within NHS maternity units, including cases where women experienced inadequate care. Some mothers reportedly faced life-threatening situations, such as bleeding uncontrollably in bathrooms, while preventable deaths of newborns were also noted. Baroness Valerie Amos, leading the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, has engaged with over 170 families across England, many of whom have suffered the loss of infants due to care deficiencies.
National Trends in Maternity Care
The latest data from NHS England reveals that there were 542,235 births recorded nationwide during the same year, reflecting a slight decrease from 545,149 births in the previous year and a significant 15% decline since 2015. The report also indicates that 43% of deliveries at Portsmouth Hospitals Trust were performed via caesarean section, with 22% classified as emergency caesareans. In comparison, the figures for 2015 were 25% and 16%, respectively.
Across England, the overall caesarean birth rate has increased to 45%, up from 27% a decade ago. Dr. Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, noted that a variety of complex factors contribute to this rise. She emphasized the need for adequate staffing, training, and facilities to manage increasingly complicated births safely.
Baroness Amos’ report highlights that the NHS has issued 748 recommendations related to maternity and neonatal care over the past decade. She expressed concern about the ongoing challenges in providing safe and reliable care, questioning why, despite numerous reviews, the system continues to struggle.
Calls for Systemic Improvement
Professor Ranee Thakar, the immediate past president of RCOG, stated that the interim report underlines an urgent need for improvement in maternity services. She pointed out that persistent issues include insufficient staffing, inadequate training time, and outdated equipment, which have resulted in harm to both mothers and babies, as well as high staff turnover.
The Nuffield Trust has raised concerns about inequalities in maternal health outcomes in the UK, particularly noting higher emergency caesarean rates among Black and Asian women. Bea Taylor of the Nuffield Trust stressed the importance of addressing these disparities, stating, “This raises urgent questions about equity, quality of care, and trust in the system.”
In response to the report, Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the distressing experiences faced by families due to systemic failures. He affirmed the commitment of NHS staff to ensure safe births, while recognizing that preventable tragedies must be addressed.
An NHS spokesperson provided insight into the rising caesarean rates, citing various influencing factors, including women’s choices and increased rates of pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and obesity. The spokesperson reiterated that the safety and well-being of mothers and babies remain the top priority, with decisions regarding births made through informed discussions that take individual circumstances and clinical advice into account.
As Portsmouth Hospitals Trust and the broader NHS grapple with these challenges, the focus remains on improving care quality and outcomes for mothers and their newborns across the country.
