Thursday briefing: The crisis putting maternity units in England at… | HappeningNow.news

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

In today’s newsletter: rising rates of C-sections, staff shortages and years of unresolved concerns are preventing some hospitals from delivering babies safely Good morning.

Source AI Summary Published October 22, 2026 Brief Under 1 min brief
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Rising C‑section rates, chronic staff shortages and years of unresolved concerns are threatening the safety of maternity services in England. Over the summer, emergency doctors at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple—one of the country’s most remote hospitals—were given a crash course in obstetric emergencies, covering shoulder dystocia, postpartum haemorrhage and neonatal collapse. The training was prompted by fears that insufficient maternity staffing could force hospitals to halt deliveries. One doctor expressed hope that the drills would prevent such emergencies, describing the experience as “intense.”

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