Research shows that the number of pregnant women in England not getting the help they need has increased

More than a third of pregnant women in England do not always receive help from maternity staff during labour, the NHS care regulator has found.

Even more people – almost half – do not always receive help when they are in hospital after giving birth, a Care Quality Commission (CQC) survey of almost 19,000 women with maternity care found.

A significant minority of women do not trust the staff who care for them during antenatal care (30%), during labor (23%) and after having their child (31%), the survey found. also shows.

In addition, one in seven do not receive the pain relief they consider necessary during labor and a quarter are no longer able to ask questions to the staff after the birth of their baby.

The worrying findings underline already acute concerns about the quality of care provided by NHS maternity services in England, much of which the CQC considers unsafe.

In September, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said: “The crisis in our maternity care… is one of the biggest issues keeping me awake at night.” He also warned of the risk of ‘a disaster that will greet women giving birth tomorrow’ and that problems existed in hospitals across England.

Many of the metrics the CQC uses when seeking women’s views on maternity care have deteriorated in the five years since the annual survey began, the report said.

For example, only 64% of this year’s participants – who gave birth in February – felt they could always get help during labor, compared to 72% in 2019. Women’s confidence in staff at every stage of pregnancy has also fallen .

“It is disappointing that for some women the care they received did not meet expectations and confidence in staff has fallen.

“There has been a reduction in the number of people who can receive adequate help and support during labour, in access to pain relief during labor and in the availability of information and support after birth,” said Nicola Wise, director of secondary and specialist education from the CQC. concern.

Joanna Corfield, from the NCT parenting charity, said: “Failing trust and timely support – this cycle of pregnancy failure must end now.” Safe, compassionate and equitable care should be “non-negotiable” for every woman, she added.

Staff shortages are a major reason why women don’t always get the help they need, according to the Royal College of Midwives. Midwives “often struggle to provide the high standard of care they want”.

On a more positive note, the CQC also found that more women are receiving support from maternity staff regarding their mental health. One in five mothers will experience a mental health problem related to their pregnancy or birth.

For example, 76% of expectant mothers were asked about their mental wellbeing during antenatal checks, and most said a midwife had done the same during their postnatal care.

Even greater numbers said midwives always listened to them (83%) and were always treated with respect and dignity (87%).

Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer at NHS England, said: “Mental health care is essential during pregnancy and it is encouraging that mothers say their experiences in this area have improved.

“But we know that much more needs to be done to ensure that all women and babies receive high-quality, personalized care.”