{"id":13569,"date":"2026-01-19T00:25:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=13569"},"modified":"2026-01-19T00:25:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:25:05","slug":"women-being-failed-by-underfunded-and-understaffed-uk-postnatal-care-womens-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=13569","title":{"rendered":"Women \u2018being failed by underfunded and understaffed\u2019 UK postnatal care | Women’s health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Women in the UK are being failed by a postnatal care system that is \u201cdangerously underfunded and understaffed\u201d, a damning report has warned.<\/p>\n

Thousands of new mothers feel unsafe, unsupported and overwhelmed in the weeks and months after giving birth, according to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).<\/p>\n

Experts said the report was \u201cdeeply troubling\u201d and too many women were \u201cbeing left without a safety net at one of the most important and vulnerable times of their lives\u201d. Feeling overwhelmed should never be considered a normal part of early parenthood, they added.<\/p>\n

The NCT report included a survey of 2,000 new and expectant parents across the UK, including 500 women who were pregnant at the time. Almost a quarter \u2013 24% \u2013 said they did not have regular access to NHS<\/a> staff in the weeks and months after birth.<\/p>\n

Nearly nine in 10 (87%) reported feeling overwhelmed at least some of the time, with 22% always feeling overwhelmed. Meanwhile, 62% reported feeling lonely sometimes, with 12% saying they felt lonely all of the time.<\/p>\n

More than half (59%) of pregnant women said they worried about their mental health.<\/p>\n

The NCT chief executive, Angela McConville, said: \u201cEvery major report has shown that the UK\u2019s maternity system is failing to provide safe, compassionate care.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecoming a parent is rarely one-dimensional. It can be joyful, frightening, overwhelming and messy, often all at once, and that kaleidoscope of emotions is shaped profoundly by the care and support families receive.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAt one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, too many parents tell us they feel unsafe, unsupported and denied genuine choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michelle Welsh, the Labour MP for Sherwood Forest and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on maternity, said the NCT report was \u201cdeeply troubling\u201d. It confirmed what families and NHS staff had been telling the group for years, she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many parents are being left without a safety net at one of the most important and vulnerable times of their lives. Feeling overwhelmed, isolated or unsafe should never be considered a normal part of pregnancy, birth or early parenthood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, ordered a review into maternity and neonatal care in England. Led by Lady Valerie Amos, it is due to report this spring, and covers 12 NHS trusts. Some families have called for a full statutory inquiry.<\/p>\n

McConville said investment, staffing, training and accountability \u201cmust be prioritised to ensure every parent can feel confident, supported and heard\u201d.<\/p>\n

Responding to the report, the government said women should get the support they need in their baby\u2019s first months of life and \u201cstark inequalities\u201d were \u201cunacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n

A Department of Health<\/a> and Social Care spokesperson added: \u201cWe expect all women to be offered a postnatal checkup with their GP at six to eight weeks after birth, which includes physical and mental health support.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis government is taking urgent action to improve maternity services \u2013 launching a national maternity and neonatal investigation, which includes identifying the drivers of inequalities, investing over \u00a3130m to make maternity and neonatal units safer, rolling out a programme to reduce avoidable brain injuries, and backing Martha\u2019s Rule.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

#Women #failed #underfunded #understaffed #postnatal #care #Womens #health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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