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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

Maternal deaths rising in UK despite fewer births, official figures show

A midwife talks to a pregnant woman.
The health secretary announced a ‘rapid national investigation’ in England into what he called the ‘crisis’ in maternity and neonatal services. Photograph: David Jones/PA Media

Growing numbers of women in the UK are dying during pregnancy or soon after giving birth, even though fewer babies are being born, official figures show.

While 209 maternal deaths occurred in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during 2015-17, that rose to 254 during 2021-23, data compiled by the House of Commons library shows.

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