The number of babies born at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has declined by nearly 18% over the past decade, according to newly released figures. In the year ending March 2023, approximately 4,690 babies were delivered at the trust, down from 4,800 the previous year and significantly lower than the 5,724 births recorded a decade earlier. This trend coincides with a national report highlighting serious concerns regarding maternity care in NHS facilities.
Baroness Valerie Amos, who is overseeing the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, has gathered insights from over 170 families across England. Many of these families have experienced devastating losses due to failures in care, prompting rising alarm over the quality of maternity services.
Recent data from NHS England indicates that the total number of births nationwide was approximately 542,235 in the year to March 2023. This represents a slight drop from the previous year’s total of 545,149 and marks a 15% decline since 2015. At Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, the rate of caesarean deliveries has also risen, with 43% of births being caesareans, including 22% that were emergency procedures. In contrast, in 2015, caesarean deliveries accounted for 25% of births, with emergency cases at 16%.
Dr. Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, emphasized the need for well-prepared services with adequate staffing, training, and facilities to handle increasingly complex deliveries. She noted that “varied and complex factors” are influencing the rise in caesarean sections.
Baroness Amos’ report highlights that the NHS has documented 748 recommendations aimed at improving maternity and neonatal care over the past decade. She described this number as “staggering,” raising critical questions about the ongoing challenges in delivering safe and reliable care across the country.
Professor Ranee Thakar, the immediate past president of RCOG, stated that the interim findings underscore an “urgent need for improvement.” She pointed out the long-standing issues within maternity units, including insufficient staffing and inadequate training, which lead to harmful outcomes for both mothers and newborns. Thakar urged the government to prioritize funding and workforce issues as part of ongoing reforms.
The Nuffield Trust fellow, Bea Taylor, highlighted disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly noting that Black and Asian women experience higher rates of emergency caesarean sections. “This raises urgent questions about equity, quality of care, and trust in the system,” Taylor stated. She emphasized that addressing these disparities is crucial not just for fairness but also for ensuring safety.
In response to these concerning trends, Health Secretary Wes Streeting remarked that the report illustrates how many families have been let down by the system, resulting in “devastating consequences.” He acknowledged the dedication of NHS staff, emphasizing that while most births are safe, systemic failures leading to preventable tragedies cannot be overlooked.
An NHS spokesperson addressed the rising rates of caesarean births, attributing them to various factors, including women’s choices, a higher prevalence of pre-existing medical conditions, and an increasing number of complicated pregnancies. They reaffirmed that the priority should always be the safety and well-being of both mothers and babies, highlighting that decisions regarding childbirth are made through informed discussions that consider individual circumstances and clinical advice.
The ongoing decline in birth rates at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, alongside alarming national trends, calls for immediate attention to the systemic issues affecting maternity care and the implementation of effective solutions to improve outcomes for mothers and infants alike.
