MAJOR overhaul of maternity care standards in the NHS to reduce the incidence of preventable maternal deaths1. Following findings from MBRRACE-UK that care improvements could have affected outcomes in 45% of cases of women who died between 2021 to 2023,2 the NHS is moving to emphasise earlier identification of medical risks, improved access to specialist care and faster escalation of deterioration.
Strengthening Early Risk Identification Strategy
While the prevalence of maternal deaths in England is rare, recent data shows that largely all cases were caused by pre-existing medical conditions that either pre-dated or developed during pregnancy. Blood clots were identified as the leading cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy, making up 17% of cases.2 The new standards offer early risk assessment for venous thromboembolism with high-risk individuals offered thromboprophylaxis within 72 hours.
Targeted Specialist Care for High-Risk Conditions
Women will be routinely assessed for mental health and offered specialist referrals where needed with findings that psychiatric causes account for 33% of deaths between six weeks and one year after pregnancy.2 Additionally, women with epilepsy will be offered personalised local services for specialist support with access to safe medications to help control seizures during pregnancy. During and after birth, women who experience haemorrhaging will receive earlier care from specialist obstetricians and anesthetists.
System-Wide Approach to Reducing Maternal Deaths
Up to five million GBP has been allocated for upgraded equipment and telephone lines to help rapid transfers to labour wards to implement earlier monitoring for pregnant women in case of deterioration. The new standards strengthen the role of 17 maternal medicine centres across England, supporting rapid specialist care for women with pre-existing or pregnancy-related conditions with each centre led by an obstetric physician. Networks linked to the centres aim to ensure universal access to specialist maternal care and improve recognition and assessment of key pregnancy ‘red flag’ symptoms across maternity services.
Accountability and Monitoring Across NHS Trusts
The digital tool Maternal Outcomes Signal System (MOSS) will continuously analyse routine maternity data to identify emerging safety concerns, with findings published every six months to support earlier intervention.3 Progress against the new standards will be reported to NHS trust boards, with escalation to regional and national levels where delivery falls short. Full implementation by March 2027 is expected to reduce deaths linked to major causes of maternal mortality, including thromboembolism, stroke, cardiac disease, sepsis, haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia.
References
1NHS England. NHS overhauls clinical standards to reduce maternal deaths. 23 April 2026. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/04/nhs-overhauls-clinical-standards-to-reduce-maternal-deaths/. Last accessed: 1 May 2026.
2NHS England. The maternal care bundle: a care bundle for reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. 2026. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/the-maternal-care-bundle/. Last accessed: 1 May 2026.
3NHS England. Maternity Outcomes Signal System (MOSS) standard operating procedures. 2026. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/maternity-outcomes-signal-system-standard-operating-procedures/. Last accessed: 1 May 2026.
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