The Royal College of Midwives has welcomed the launch of a new Maternity Care Bundle by NHS England, designed to improve maternity safety, reduce maternal deaths and serious illness, and address inequalities in care across England.
Developed collaboratively with frontline clinicians, service users, Royal Colleges, regulators, professional bodies and charities, the bundle takes a whole-system approach, recognising that many factors contributing to maternal mortality and morbidity extend beyond maternity services alone.
The bundle calls for coordinated action across maternity, emergency and ambulance services, mental health, primary care and other medical specialties, ensuring risks are identified early and responses are swift and effective.
It focuses on five key clinical areas linked to higher maternal mortality and morbidity:
- Venous thromboembolism
- Pre-hospital and acute care
- Epilepsy in pregnancy
- Maternal mental health
- Obstetric haemorrhage
Quality and Standards Advisor at the RCM, Rachel Drain, said:
“We’re proud to have been involved in the development of the Maternity Care Bundle. Too many women still experience preventable harm during pregnancy, and during and after birth and variation in care remains a significant issue. Establishing clear, evidence-based standards across these key areas is an important step in improving safety and outcomes for mothers.
“Crucially, this bundle recognises that maternity safety is not delivered by maternity services alone. It has been designed to support consistent, joined-up and equitable care, rather than acting as a checklist for individual clinicians. A coordinated whole-system approach, supported by a well-resourced workforce, is essential if this guidance is to translate into real improvements for women, babies and families, particularly those most at risk of poor outcomes.”
Together, these elements establish a baseline standard of care that NHS providers and commissioners must implement consistently across England. Clinicians will see changes through updated local guidelines, clearer referral pathways, improved escalation processes, and enhanced multidisciplinary training and quality improvement initiatives.
The RCM says the bundle represents a significant step forward in ensuring safer, more equitable maternity care for women and families nationwide.
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