Delayed C-sections and unsafe wards crisis at crumbling maternity units laid bare

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"Pregnant women are giving birth in maternity units plagued by water leaks, power outages, and faulty equipment, laying bare the crisis of the NHS's crumbling hospital buildings. A new report for NHS England flagged more than 14,000 safety incidents at maternity units in the past three years, fuelling disruptions, such as delays to planned C-sections. The report warns of the unsafe condition of some hospital maternity wings, highlighting outdated, overheating, and frequently broken equipment,"

The Independent covers major issues including reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech and seeks donations to fund on-the-ground reporters while keeping reporting paywall-free and accessible. NHS England data reveal 14,519 formally reported incidents in the maternity and neonatal estate over three years, with at least 7 per cent of wards at risk of imminent breakdown. Maternity units face water leaks, power outages, faulty and outdated equipment, overcrowded wards, rooms too small for emergency movement, lack of CCTV, and areas without natural light or ventilation, causing disruptions including delays to planned C-sections.

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