The short version
- Liberal Democrat analysis indicates postpartum hemorrhage cases have more than doubled compared to the same period in 2021.
- The party proposes annual spending of £600 million on maternity services and mandates one-to-one midwife care for all women in labor.
- Government officials defend upcoming national action plans while Labour critics question the Lib Dems' historical record on health standards.
Political pressure is intensifying around the state of maternity care in England as Liberal Democrat leaders highlight what they describe as a crisis in patient safety. Sir Ed Davey, the party leader, characterized the current situation as a devastating indictment of national health services, pointing to data that suggests life-altering injuries during childbirth have reached unprecedented levels. This critique comes as the government prepares to release a new national maternity and neonatal action plan later this year, aiming to consolidate recommendations from several high-profile inquiries into systemic failures.
Central to the Liberal Democrats' argument is an analysis of National Health Service figures showing a sharp increase in severe complications. According to their review, more than 8,000 women experienced postpartum hemorrhages involving blood loss exceeding 1.5 liters since the beginning of the year. This figure represents more than double the number recorded during the equivalent period in 2021. The data indicates that rates of major hemorrhage peaked between April and June, with approximately 32.7 women per thousand requiring emergency treatment during that timeframe.
Injuries to mothers are also on the rise, with the party noting that three in every 100 women suffered serious tearing injuries requiring emergency surgery in the first half of the year. The rate of third or fourth-degree vaginal tears has increased by 29 percent over the last five years. These statistics form the basis for calls to overhaul staffing models, specifically demanding one-to-one midwife care for every woman in labor and the presence of a consultant obstetrician on every labor ward at all hours.
Sir Ed Davey pledged that if his party were in government, it would invest £600 million annually in maternity services. He argued that this investment should focus on prevention rather than remediation, noting that £1.3 billion is currently spent each year on negligence compensation payouts related to poor maternity care. The proposal includes recruiting an additional 300 consultant midwives and addressing what he described as massively overstretched staff who are run ragged by current demands.
The Liberal Democrats also pointed to Care Quality Commission survey data indicating that one in ten women, roughly 54,000 individuals, were left alone during the late stages of labor or childbirth last year. The party attributes this lack of supervision to training deficits and staff shortages. Helen Morgan, the health spokesperson, emphasized that reports on previous maternity scandals have been gathering dust, arguing that years after the Shrewsbury and Telford scandal, women continue to suffer preventable harm.
The reference to Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust recalls a 2022 review that found catastrophic failures over two decades may have contributed to the deaths of more than 200 babies. While the trust has apologized and implemented measures to prevent recurrence, Morgan stated that her community remains devastated by the legacy of those events. She highlighted the need for an independent maternity commissioner to drive improvements, a role she successfully campaigned for in previous legislative efforts.
In response to these criticisms, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that every woman deserves safe maternity care and that the new health secretary has made this issue a personal priority. The government pointed to the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, which it chairs, as the mechanism for delivering necessary reforms. Officials also noted an investment of £187 million since April 2025 to address critical safety risks in maternity and neonatal facilities.
The government is extending Martha's Rule to every maternity and neonatal ward, ensuring that reports of patient deterioration from families are acted upon promptly. Additionally, England's first statutory Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner will be appointed to ensure the voices of women, babies, and families are central to national policy making. However, Labour Party critics dismissed Davey's comments as hollow, reminding voters that he was part of the coalition government that previously dismantled national standards for maternity services.
Labour spokespersons argued that Yvette Cooper is now tasked with restoring those very standards, implying a contradiction in the Liberal Democrats' current stance. They noted that Davey never raised objections to the previous decisions nor has he apologized since. As the political debate continues, the focus remains on whether the upcoming government action plan will effectively address the rising rates of injury and the systemic staffing issues that have plagued English maternity units for years.
The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny as the new national plan is published and implemented. With record levels of blood loss and severe tearing injuries documented, the pressure is on policymakers to translate inquiry recommendations into tangible improvements. The Liberal Democrats' proposal for significant funding increases and mandatory staffing ratios offers a specific alternative to current government strategies, setting the stage for continued political contention over how best to safeguard maternal and neonatal health.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC News↗Lib Dems call for one-to-one midwife care during childbirth
