Today, MBRRACE-UK has published the full Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care report on women who died during or up to a year after pregnancy between 2020 and 2022. This follows a data brief that came out in January 2024, which showed the maternal death rate in the UK to be at its highest for 20 years.
Today’s report shows that the leading cause of maternal death between 2020 and 2022 was blood clots (thromboembolism), followed by Covid-19 and heart disease. Causes of death for women who died between six weeks and a year after giving birth were most commonly mental health-related, including suicide and drug and alcohol use.
The MBRRACE-UK collaboration has set out key recommendations for swift identification of pregnant women at risk of blood clots, to ensure timely access to preventative treatment. They also call for action to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer in pregnancy when women are describing concerning symptoms, and suggest revisions to the way 999 calls from pregnant women are categorised, to make sure they receive urgent assessment and treatment where needed.
January’s report highlighted persistent disparities in maternal care, with Black women three times more likely to die during or up to six weeks after pregnancy compared with White women. Women from Asian ethnic backgrounds are almost twice as likely to die in this period compared to White women, and women living in the most deprived areas are almost twice as likely to die compared with those in the least deprived areas.
Responding to the report, Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“It’s vital that multidisciplinary teams have the tools and training to quickly identify the onset of potentially life-threatening health concerns in pregnant patients and ensure they have prompt access to treatment. Our guidance on thrombosis and thromboembolism sets out the joined-up actions and interventions that must be taken to identify and treat these conditions, including recognising which women may be at higher risk and keeping patients under ongoing review in the post-partum period.
“The data around deaths related to mental health is absolutely tragic, and highlights that the time after giving birth can leave many women feeling emotionally as well as physically vulnerable. We know that maternity teams are doing an incredible job caring for women who may be struggling with mental health during or after pregnancy and signposting them to appropriate support, but investment is needed to make sure that timely and holistic provision is out there for everyone who needs it.
“The UK remains one of the safest places in the world to give birth, but today’s report reinforces that there is a long way to go to make sure that everyone accessing maternity services in this country receives high quality, personalised and compassionate care, whatever their ethnicity, location, health profile or socioeconomic background. We urgently need to see the Government translating its voiced commitments on closing the maternal mortality gap into tangible and coordinated action. We all have a part to play in addressing the root causes of health inequalities, but that must be underpinned by funding, clear targets and direct collaboration with women in the affected groups.”
- Read the full MBRRACE-UK report here.
- To find out more about the RCOG maternity safety programme click here.