Minister apologises to women affected by birth trauma after UK inquiry

Among the inquiry’s recommendations is the creation of a maternity commissioner reporting to the prime minister. Photograph: Montgomery Martin/Alamy

A health minister has apologised to women affected by birth trauma after a parliamentary inquiry that heard “harrowing” testimonies from more than 1,300 women about giving birth found a “postcode lottery” for maternity care.

The birth trauma inquiry, led by the Conservative MP Theo Clarke and Labour MP Rosie Duffield, will call for an overhaul of the UK’s maternity and postnatal care.