National initiatives for maternity and neonatal safety in England

The publication of the Kirkup report in early 2015, following the Morecambe Bay investigation, propelled maternity safety into the public spotlight. As maternity teams considered recommendations from the report, a review of maternity services in England, led by Baroness Cumberlege, began. The review findings, supported by 27 recommendations, resulted in the publication of Better Births. Findings from MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK) highlighted opportunities to improve care in relation to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, providing key recommendations to address identified needs. The increasing focus on maternity safety in England was enhanced further in November 2015 when a new national maternity ambition was announced: to reduce the rate of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths, and brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth by 20% by 2020, and 50% by 2030.