Thursday briefing: The crisis putting maternity units in England at risk of closure

Maternity units in England are facing a significant crisis, with some at risk of indefinite closure due to severe staff shortages and a rise in emergency procedures like C-sections. This issue has led to emergency department doctors, such as those at North Devon district hospital in Barnstaple, receiving crash courses in delivering babies and managing complications like shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage. The Guardian has reported that up to 20 maternity units across England could shut, highlighting a long-standing problem that prevents hospitals from safely delivering babies. This crisis is rooted in years of unresolved concerns and reflects dramatic changes in childbirth over the last decade, posing a major risk to safe healthcare for new mothers and infants.