The report presents key recommendations for maternal medicine networks in England, health boards and integrated care boards, NICE, and the NIHR for improving the care of women with complex medical, mental health and social needs.
This report follows the data brief that was published in January 2025 that showed a slight improvement in the UK maternal death rate in 2021–2023. It examines the care received by the women who died in more detail and suggests strategies and interventions to prevent future deaths.
The data published by the MBRRACE-UK collaboration in January 2025 also showed that persistent disparities in maternal care remained. In 2021–2023, Black women were more than twice as likely to die during or up to six weeks after pregnancy when compared with White women. Asian women and women from mixed ethnic backgrounds also had a slightly, statistically non-significant increased risk of death when compared with White women.* Women living in the most deprived areas of the UK were more than twice as likely to die when compared to women living in the least deprived areas.
The data also showed that 91% of the women who died during or up to a year after pregnancy faced multiple or interrelated challenges including multiple and severe disadvantages, physical health problems, and mental health challenges.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Population Health website.