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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent

‘National disgrace’: black mothers in England twice as likely to have NHS birth investigated

NHS England RCM Brain
A black woman looks at her newborn baby.
The higher rate of investigations is a reflection of black women’s increased likelihood of experiencing maternal death, stillbirths and having babies born with severe brain injuries. Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty Images/FatCamera

The births of babies to black mothers are almost twice as likely to be investigated for potential NHS safety failings, in a shocking disparity that has been labelled a “national disgrace”.

More than 2,300 investigations were completed by England’s maternity safety watchdog between 2020 and 2023 into cases including the tragic deaths of babies before, during and soon after birth, and the deaths of expectant or new mothers.

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