Figures show that thousands of new mothers in England have been re-admitted to hospital after giving birth
Figures reveal that thousands of new mothers are admitted to hospital in England every year, raising new concerns about maternity care provided by the NHS.
Discharging women prematurely increases the risk of birth loss-related conditions, and it can be very traumatic. If birth injuries or other conditions are not treated until the mother is admitted again days or weeks later, the chances of a full recovery may also be reduced.
In total, 14,630 new mothers had to be readmitted within 30 days of giving birth over the past 12 months, equating to 40 cases every day. In the last quarter for which data are available, from April to June 2025, one in 20 new mothers had to be readmitted shortly after being discharged from the hospital.
The numbers, which do not specify why a woman was readmitted, have only been collected in their current form since 2024, making it difficult to compare readmission rates with previous data.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman who obtained the NHS figures from the House of Commons library, said the figures were “heartbreaking”.
She also called on Labor to reverse its cuts to national Service Development Funding (SDF) for maternity services from £95 million in 2024-25 to £2 million in 2025-26. The fund was introduced following the Ockenden review of maternity services in Shrewsbury and Telford, with the aim of improving the quality of maternity care.
Pregnant women in England are at increased risk of suffering serious injury during childbirth, The Guardian reported on Friday.
The number of mothers suffering third- or fourth-degree perineal tears during the birth of their babies rose from 25 in 1,000 in June 2020 to 29 in 1,000 in June this year — a 16% increase, according to the figures, which were also obtained by Morgan.
This means that approximately 3% of women giving birth in England during this period had a serious rupture. Such injuries damage a woman’s anal sphincter and cause long-term pain, birth trauma, and urinary incontinence. It can also have a “life-changing” impact on a woman’s overall physical and mental health, cause post-traumatic stress disorder and leave her fearful of having another child.
The figures come after significant concerns about the poor quality of maternity care in the NHS prompted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to launch an inquiry into maternity and newborn care and set up a task force to recommend improvements.
“Behind these numbers are heartbreaking stories of women suffering unimaginable trauma in a moment that should be filled with joy,” Morgan said.
“The Conservatives’ neglect of maternity services is inexcusable, putting mothers and babies at risk, but Labor risks pushing action on this issue out into the open… The Government’s investigation cannot be used as a shield against meaningful action now.
“It is unacceptable that the government is raiding the main fund to improve maternity services, even though many women are dying or injured due to poor maternity care. Their promises to improve safety will remain hollow until they change course.
“If the government is serious about ending the disaster unfolding in our maternity wards, it must reverse these cuts immediately, support our hard-working NHS teams, and implement all the measures in the Ockenden review without delay.”
Medical leaders called on NHS staff to ensure “thorough checks” are carried out on every new mother before sending her home.
Professor Asma Khalil, Consultant Obstetrician and Vice-President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said: “Maternal readmissions can occur for a number of reasons, such as postpartum haemorrhage, infection, or complications that develop in the days or weeks following birth.
“We are also seeing more complex pregnancies, which can lead to an increased risk of pre- and post-natal complications. Healthcare professionals should be aware of factors that may increase a woman’s risk of being readmitted to hospital and take a comprehensive, person-centred approach to post-natal care, ensuring comprehensive check-ups are carried out before discharge.”
“It is important that maternity services have the right staff, training and facilities to provide safe, personal and compassionate care to every woman and baby.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Giving birth can be an amazing moment in a woman’s life, but suffering injuries, including perineal tears, can leave mothers deeply traumatised.
“This government inherited a failed maternity care system, which is why we have rapidly opened a national maternity inquiry, established a national taskforce and continue to deliver perinatal pelvic health services to reduce rates of perineal tears.
They said that allegations of funding cuts in the 2025-2026 budget are false. “Overall funding has increased by £26 billion, and local NHS systems have been given the freedom to spend funding to best meet the needs of their local community, while holding the government accountable if they deliver better outcomes for patients.”