A parliamentary inquiry in the UK, concluding in May 2024, reviewed over 1,300 submissions highlighting severe issues in maternal care during childbirth. The Guardian reported that the inquiry uncovered numerous instances of medical mishaps and a lack of compassion from healthcare professionals, often leading to significant birth trauma for women. Notably, the issues were exacerbated for women from marginalized or minority ethnic groups, with some reports of racism influencing the quality of care.
Key themes identified included failures in listening to pregnant women's concerns, inadequacies in informed consent for medical procedures, poor communication, and a lack of adequate pain relief. Many women recounted experiences of not being listened to when expressing severe pain or other health concerns, which in some cases led to severe health consequences or even the death of the baby.
Issues with postnatal care were also prominent, with reports of women left unattended after childbirth, leading to feelings of neglect and fear for personal safety. Complaints related to medical negligence were frequently treated dismissively, and many expressed that their mental health concerns were ignored post-birth.
The inquiry's findings have spotlighted significant shortcomings in maternal healthcare within the UK’s NHS, focusing on the need for more compassionate and competent care to prevent such traumas.