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Maternity Care Crisis: 1 in 5 Women Feel Unheard
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- One in five women felt their concerns were not taken seriously during childbirth.
- One in ten mothers were left alone during maternity care at a worrying time.
- Workforce shortages pressure midwives, impacting attentive patient care.
Recent findings from a national survey involving almost 17,000 women in England highlight significant concerns regarding maternity care experiences. A substantial portion of women, nearly 18%, reported that their worries were not adequately addressed by healthcare providers during childbirth, indicating a critical communication gap.
Further distressing results show that one in ten mothers experienced being left alone during their maternity care at times that caused them significant anxiety. This situation is exacerbated by chronic workforce shortages, which place immense pressure on midwives and make it challenging to offer the consistent, attentive care required.
Despite these concerning trends, the survey also noted some improvements, such as better communication and increased availability of mental health support. However, experts emphasize the urgent need for action to address the persistent issues and ensure all women receive safe, compassionate, and well-heard care.
