Life-changing child birth injuries at record levels in UK - scale of maternity ward failures laid bare

Life-changing child birth injuries at record levels in UK - scale of maternity ward failures laid bare EXCLUSIVE: Care Quality Commission data analysed by the Lib Dems shows that 1 in 10 women - roughly 54,000 mothers every year - are left alone during late stages of labour or childbirth Britain’s maternity wards are seeing “mothers and babies are being failed across large parts of the country”, damning new figures reveal. . Care Quality Commission (CQC) data analysed by the Lib Dems shows that 1 in 10 women - roughly 54,000 mothers every year - are left alone during late stages of labour or childbirth. The data shows life-altering childbirth injuries reached a record high in the first half of 2026, with NHS data showing that 3 in every 100 women undergoing a vaginal birth now suffer severe 3rd or 4th-degree tears. These are agonising injuries so profound that patients must be rushed to an operating theatre for surgical repair. The rate of these severe tears has surged by 29% since 2021. Now Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has urged the PM Andy Burnham to step in to end the crisis. It comes with wards facing severe shortages of senior midwives and consultant doctors, while overworked staff are left without adequate training to read vital CTG heart monitors or identify women at risk. The crisis extends to life-threatening postpartum haemorrhages, with 2026 recording peak rates of severe bleeds involving a blood loss of more than 1.5l. The most recent quarter (April-June) had the highest level ever recorded - at 33 women per thousand and 2026 has seen a higher level than any previous year. Speaking to this newspaper as his party conference begins, Sir Ed said: “The number of injuries and deaths to mothers and babies seems to be rising, which is shocking. “I think that Britain should be the safest country in the world to have a baby given our NHS and given what we've achieved in the past, so we're going to keep pushing that until that vision is achieved.” Pointing the finger at decades of Tory austerity, he added: "The genesis of this is all those years where the Conservatives just ignored it, and I think they have to bear a big responsibility for the mess of our NHS and maternity services in particular.” It comes after the Mirror told how mothers-to-be in Devon feared having problem births by the roadside with no one to help. A lack of consultants and obstetricians has meant births, including C-sections, as well as triage appointments to see if mother and baby have any problems, have been suspended at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. The Lib Dem leader also praised Mr Burnham for his willingness to work with him on improving maternity wards. He said: “I felt Starmer didn't really get a grip of this, and I get the impression that Burnham will listen. “Starmer never met me, never invited me in for cross-party talks on anything. So there's no doubt there's been a change of tone, and there's no doubt that I welcome that. But I've got to be honest, the proof of the pudding will be the eating, won't it?”. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Every woman deserves safe maternity care and the new Health Secretary has made this issue a personal priority. Through the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that she is chairing, this Government will deliver the reforms needed to ensure the very highest standards of safety and care for every mother and baby.”