Maternity Reports

Report - 27 August 2025

A report published by the Care Quality Commission in 2023 revealed that nearly half of the maternity services in the UK were rated as either 'needs improvement' or 'inadequate'. As community advocates, we sought to explore whether these negative ratings disproportionately impact women from minority ethnic groups in their maternity care experiences.​

To gather insights, we conducted face-to-face interviews with 32 women, with the assistance of children's centres and local charities. These conversations aimed to capture the personal experiences of these women throughout their pregnancy and childbirth journeys. The majority of participants shared that their experiences during pregnancy were either negative or mixed, though they reported more positive experiences during labour and after childbirth.

A notable finding from our study was the disparity in experiences between ethnic groups. Women from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly those from black or Asian communities, reported more unsatisfactory experiences during both pregnancy and childbirth. For instance, during pregnancy, these women faced a range of challenges including the high cost of living (a significant issue among Asian/British Asian women), a lack of family support, the impacts of COVID-19, and diabetes. In contrast, white participants primarily dealt with issues such as the absence of familial assistance, pre-eclampsia, food cravings, and also the cost of living.

Another reports was done across boroughs and in partnership with other Healthwatches, such as Healthwatch Ealing, Westminster, Brent, etc

 

Please see our reports and recommendations blow

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H&F Maternity
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NWL Maternity
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Recommendations
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