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Original poster

Half of black women in UK who raise concerns during labour did not receive suitable help

62 replies

IwantToRetire · 25/07/2025 15:03

Maternity experiences of more than 1,000 pregnant people found black women up to four times more likely to die in childbirth

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/21/half-of-black-women-in-uk-who-raise-concerns-during-labour-did-not-receive-suitable-help-study-finds

I know there have been other threads about this on FWR, but cant seem to find them. Only to say that the situation still seems to be as bad as it was a year ago(?)

Half of black women in UK who raise concerns during labour did not receive suitable help, study finds

Maternity experiences of more than 1,000 pregnant people found black women up to four times more likely to die in childbirth

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/21/half-of-black-women-in-uk-who-raise-concerns-during-labour-did-not-receive-suitable-help-study-finds

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LadyKenya · 25/07/2025 16:59

Extravirginolive · 25/07/2025 16:48

Lots don't.

There's over 60 nationalities in London and also 60 nationalities working for the NHS so the language complexity that creates is enormous. Are interpreters for 60 languages on call and provided for all labour? That's amazing. And amazingly expensive.

Once you turn a country maternity service into a 70 percent global service, where 70 percent of the funding is spent on foreign parents you have created a massive amount of problems.

And as it over 60 nationalities both as users and service providers which of the nationalities have the wrong beliefs?

Edited
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It is clear where this is going. As far as I am concerned the racist attitudes that have been harming WoC in maternity care, are long overdue, being looked into. The Government has finally seen that there is a persistent problem that is no longer tolerable. It is about time something is done to minimise the harm that is being done, due to outdated, racist beliefs.

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Original poster
IwantToRetire · 25/07/2025 16:56

Extravirginolive · 25/07/2025 16:48

Lots don't.

There's over 60 nationalities in London and also 60 nationalities working for the NHS so the language complexity that creates is enormous. Are interpreters for 60 languages on call and provided for all labour? That's amazing. And amazingly expensive.

Once you turn a country maternity service into a 70 percent global service, where 70 percent of the funding is spent on foreign parents you have created a massive amount of problems.

And as it over 60 nationalities both as users and service providers which of the nationalities have the wrong beliefs?

Edited
Show quote history

Talk about whataboutery.

Nothing you have said is logical.

And its clear if you bothered to read up on the issue and the women campaigning that this appalling treatment is impacting British (just to be clear)Afro Caribbean women.

Whilst Asian women have a less worse outcome.

What goes on inside your head that you would write something so offensive as that.

OP posts:
Extravirginolive · 25/07/2025 16:48

LadyKenya · 25/07/2025 16:31

That alone would not be enough to explain what is happening here. Lots of foreign born people, do actually speak English, or would be able to access an interpreter during hospital appointments, etc.

Show quote history

Lots don't.

There's over 60 nationalities in London and also 60 nationalities working for the NHS so the language complexity that creates is enormous. Are interpreters for 60 languages on call and provided for all labour? That's amazing. And amazingly expensive.

Once you turn a country maternity service into a 70 percent global service, where 70 percent of the funding is spent on foreign parents you have created a massive amount of problems.

And as it over 60 nationalities both as users and service providers which of the nationalities have the wrong beliefs?

Fearfulsaints · 25/07/2025 16:43

Its gutting that this doesn't seem to improve. Its been discussed considerably and im sure investigated before.

Its not ok.

LadyKenya · 25/07/2025 16:31

Extravirginolive · 25/07/2025 16:18

30 percent of births in 2023 were to foreign born mothers and its almost 70 percent in London. That's just census data so won't include many people here.

I expect the language barrier is enormous.

Edited

That alone would not be enough to explain what is happening here. Lots of foreign born people, do actually speak English, or would be able to access an interpreter during hospital appointments, etc.

Extravirginolive · 25/07/2025 16:18

30 percent of births in 2023 were to foreign born mothers and its almost 70 percent in London. That's just census data so won't include many people here.

I expect the language barrier is enormous.

LadyKenya · 25/07/2025 16:10

This is not surprising, unfortunately. I live in hope that things will change, for the better, but whilst certain beliefs are being held, they will impact on how people are treated.

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Original poster
IwantToRetire · 25/07/2025 15:49

There remains an almost three-fold difference in maternal mortality rates amongst women from Black ethnic backgrounds compared to White women. The maternal mortality rate for Black women has decreased from 2019-21 but not statistically significantly so.

The apparent disparity has decreased largely due to an increase in the maternal mortality rate amongst White women. As in 2019-21 there remains an almost two-fold difference amongst women from Asian ethnic backgrounds compared to White women.

https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/data-brief/maternal-mortality-2020-2022

Maternal mortality 2020-2022 | MBRRACE-UK | NPEU

The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) is a multidisciplinary research unit based at the University of Oxford. Our work involves running randomised con

https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/data-brief/maternal-mortality-2020-2022

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Waitwhat23 · 25/07/2025 15:35

Four times more likely to die. Fucking hell. That's awful. And the refusal to give pain relief is just gobsmacking.

I very much hope the following from that article -

'The health and social care committee is in the middle of an inquiry into black maternal health and, earlier this month, the health secretary announced the launch of a national maternity investigation.'

Leads to changes and isn't just a handwringing exercise.

(Edited to add, handwringing is not to say they shouldn't be horrified by it but hopefully they can recognise and change the situation and not just leave it to continue)

Wes Streeting announces investigation into ‘failing’ NHS maternity services

Health secretary launches national inquiry into care of mothers and babies in England, saying there is ‘too much passing the buck’

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/23/wes-streeting-announces-investigation-into-nhs-maternity-services