NHS England Makes New Rules for Maternity Care After More Mothers Die

Apr 23, 2026, 12:54

Introduction

England's top midwife, Kate Brintworth, says current care for mothers is not good. New data shows more mothers die during pregnancy and after birth. NHS England will make new rules to stop these deaths. The rules will start by March 2027.

Main Body

A report from the University of Oxford says the number of mothers who die has gone up by 21% compared to 2009–2011. If we do not count deaths from COVID-19, the number went up by 7%. NHS data shows 252 mothers died between 2022 and 2024, and 257 died between 2021 and 2023. Better care could have helped about 45% of these women. The top cause of death for mothers between six weeks and one year after birth is suicide. Mental health problems caused 33% of deaths in that time. Blood clots are now the top cause of death for mothers overall. The new rules say: all pregnant women must get an early check for blood clots before their first doctor visit. Women with a high risk will get medicine to thin their blood within 72 hours. Women with epilepsy will see a local specialist and get safe medicine. All women will get a mental health check. If needed, they will see a specialist for mental health. For heavy bleeding after birth, doctors will act faster. These rules should stop deaths from blood clots, strokes, heart disease, suicide, infections, heavy bleeding, and pre-eclampsia. These problems cause 52% of all mother deaths. Brintworth says doctors still miss signs of serious problems, especially for Black and Asian women. Health Secretary Wes Streeting says he wants to change care. The NHS has hired 2,000 more midwives. He says most births are safe, but some women get hurt from problems that doctors can treat. The new rules aim to give every woman a risk check and good care from the start of pregnancy.

Conclusion

The NHS is making new rules to stop more mothers from dying. The full plan will start by March 2027. Officials say current care is not enough. Many deaths could be stopped with early checks and special help.

Vocabulary Learning

care
Help or treatment for someone who is sick or needs support照顧；護理
Example:Current care for mothers is not good.
check
To look at something to see if it is okay or safe檢查
Example:All pregnant women must get an early check for blood clots.
die
To stop living死亡
Example:More mothers die during pregnancy.
risk
The chance that something bad may happen風險
Example:Women with a high risk will get medicine.
rules
Official instructions that tell people what they must do規則；規定
Example:NHS England will make new rules to stop deaths.

Sentence Learning

England's top midwife, Kate Brintworth, says current care for mothers is not good.
Simple present tense: subject (midwife) + verb (says) + object clause.本句為簡單現在式：主詞（助產士）加上動詞（表示）加上受詞子句。
New data shows more mothers die during pregnancy and after birth.
Simple present tense: subject (data) + verb (shows) + noun clause.本句為簡單現在式：主詞（數據）加上動詞（顯示）加上名詞子句。
The rules will start by March 2027.
Future simple tense using the auxiliary verb 'will'.本句為未來簡單式，使用助動詞「will」。
Better care could have helped about 45% of these women.
Modal perfect 'could have helped' expresses possibility in the past.本句使用情態助動詞完成式「could have helped」，表示過去可能發生的情況。
Blood clots are now the top cause of death for mothers overall.
Simple present tense with linking verb 'are'.本句為簡單現在式，使用連綴動詞「are」。