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One in Five Women Ignored During Childbirth
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- One in five women feel ignored when raising concerns during labour.
- Ten percent of women were left alone during crucial moments of labour.
- Satisfaction levels in NHS maternity services remain static.
New data highlights significant challenges within NHS maternity services, revealing that one in five women feel their concerns are not taken seriously during labour and birth. This lack of being heard persists, with 18% of women reporting this issue, unchanged from the previous year.
Furthermore, a notable ten percent of women experienced being left alone during stages of labour or birth when they felt worried. While improvements are noted in areas like communication during antenatal care and involvement in decision-making during labour, overall satisfaction levels have remained stagnant.
The report, based on a survey of over 16,750 women, also points to disparities, with women from deprived neighbourhoods less likely to feel treated with dignity. Ongoing issues with accessing help when needed and persistent themes of not being listened to underscore the need for continued improvements.
