Maternal death rate in UK rose by 20% over 14 years despite Tory pledge

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Andrew Gregory Health editorJanuary 14, 2026 at 08:11 PM

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A recent report revealed that the maternal death rate in the UK increased by 20% between 2009-11 and 2022-24, despite a Conservative pledge to halve it by 2025. The increase, documented by MBRRACE-UK, shows a rise in deaths directly linked to pregnancy complications like blood clots and pre-eclampsia, while indirect deaths saw a smaller increase. Experts attribute the rise to failures in maternity care, as many of these complications are treatable if detected early. The leading cause of death during pregnancy or up to six weeks afterward was blood clots. Health leaders and campaigners expressed concern over the figures, highlighting the need to address issues within maternity services.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

England 30% University of Oxford 40% Birth Trauma Association 40% Marian Knight 50% NHS 50% Kim Thomas ×250% Jeremy Hunt 60% Conservatives ×270% MBRRACE-UK ×280% UK ×290%

Keywords

maternal death rate 100% maternal mortality 90% pregnancy complications 80% maternity services 70% blood clots 70% pre-eclampsia 60% nhs 50% healthcare 50% mbrrace-uk 40%