Davey: Maternity care scandal must end this Parliament as childbirth injuries reach record high rates

21 Sep 2026

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Analysis of NHS data by the Liberal Democrats has found the risk of life-altering childbirth injuries have reached a record high in 2026, revealing a deepening national maternity safety scandal across the NHS
More than 54,000 women last year were left alone during late stages of labour as staff shortages, missing consultants, and lack of training push NHS maternity services to breaking point
Ed Davey has therefore demanded an end to the maternity care scandal by the culmination of this Parliament.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is today demanding an end to the maternity care scandal by the close of this parliament as figures reveal life-altering childbirth injuries have reached a record high in the first half of 2026, demonstrating a deepening national maternity safety scandal across the NHS. It follows the successful campaign by Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan for an independent maternity commissioner to drive improvements.

NHS data analysed by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 3 in every 100 women undergoing a vaginal birth now suffer severe 3rd or 4th-degree tears. These are agonising injuries so profound that patients must be rushed to an operating theatre for surgical repair. The rate of these severe tears has surged by 29% since 2021.

The crisis extends to life-threatening postpartum haemorrhages, with 2026 recording peak rates of severe bleeds involving a blood loss of more than 1.5l. The most recent quarter (April-June) had the highest level ever recorded - at 32.7 women per thousand. More than 8,000 women have been recorded as suffering these severe bleeds since the start of the year, more than double the number recorded over the equivalent period in 2021.

This follows a devastating 2025, which saw:

7,720 women suffer 3rd and 4th-degree tears (up from 5,160 in 2021), pushing rates to 28.4 per 1,000 women, up from 23.5 in 2021.
16,825 women experience severe bleeds of over 1.5 litres - representing more than 3 in every 100 mothers - the worst level since records began, and an increase of 12% compared to 2021.

Failures are being driven by a critical lack of staffing and training. Care Quality Commission (CQC) data shows that 1 in 10 women - roughly 54,000 mothers were left alone during late stages of labour or childbirth last year. Wards are facing severe shortages of senior midwives and consultant doctors, while overworked staff are left without adequate training to read vital CTG heart monitors or identify women at risk.

Davey has raised the issue of the poor standard of maternity care repeatedly at recent PMQs, and Liberal Democrat MPs across the country are campaigning on the issue as many maternity units across the nation reach crisis point.

Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

“These figures are a devastating indictment of our NHS maternity services. Thousands of women are being left alone during labour, terrified and exposed to life-altering trauma – because severe staffing shortages and missing consultants have pushed wards to breaking point.

“The Government cannot turn a blind eye to this national safety scandal. Every mother deserves safe, compassionate care when bringing a child into the world. The Health Secretary must act now – with the staffing, training and resources maternity wards need. This crisis must end by the close of this Parliament.”

Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, said:

“The silent scandal of the maternity crisis in the country shames successive governments. It has unfolded in plain sight. We cannot accept the fact that injuries are rising, maternal deaths are higher than at any point in the last decade, or that 65% of maternity units are unsafe.

“We have seen report after report gathering dust. Years after the Shrewsbury and Telford scandal which devastated my community - my neighbours and friends - women continue to suffer. This must be the moment we say ‘enough’.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

First reported in The Mirror and The Times.

2026 Injury Rates so far: Severe 3rd and 4th-degree tear rates among vaginal births are now at ~3%, 29.7 per thousand, (nearly 3 in 100), representing a 30% increase on 2021 levels.
2026 severe bleed rates: post-partum haemorrhage of more than 1.5l of blood now impacts more than 3 in every 100 women, with the most recent quarter (April to June) setting a new record (32.7 per thousand women).
2025 Injury Rates: In 2025, 7,720 women suffered severe tears (up from 5,160 in 2021, a rate increase from 23.5 to 28.4 per 1,000). 16,825 women suffered severe bleeds (>1500ml), up from 10,035 recorded in 2021 with the rate rising from 28.19 to 31.65 per thousand. This was a record high.
CQC Findings: The Care Quality Commission’s maternity survey highlights that 1 in 10 women (10%) felt left alone at a time that worried them during labour or birth, equivalent to approximately 55-60,000 women annually. https://www.cqc.org.uk/press-release/national-survey-shows-some-improvement-maternity-care-experiences-further-work-needed
Clinical Definition: 3rd and 4th-degree tears extend into the anal sphincter or mucosa and require repair by a specialist surgeon in an operating theatre under regional or general anaesthesia.

Stats for tears here

Stats for bleeds here.

Source for statistics here. Note that the July stats represent results for Q2 for CQIMPPH (postpartum haemorrhage), while CQIMTears (level of 3rd and 4th degree tears) for Q2 are published in the June stats.