The Liberal Democrats have announced proposals for a significant transformation of maternity services during a visit to Sussex.

The party is demanding guaranteed midwife assistance and constant consultant availability on labour wards.

Their £600 million rescue strategy, rolled out on Thursday March 26, seeks to tackle escalating injuries, complications and safety issues within maternity departments.

Party leader Ed Davey and Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde participated in a Tots Play session at St Gregory’s Church, located at The Tots Play Centre in Victoria Drive, Eastbourne.

Their recommendations encompass individual midwife support for every woman during labour, alongside uninterrupted consultant obstetrician staffing on every maternity ward.

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, stated that mothers deserve exceptional standards of care, yet numerous families have endured heartbreaking outcomes due to deficiencies in maternity departments.

Despite numerous investigations, identical errors continue recurring, with women and infants bearing the consequences.

The party requires an immediate rescue strategy to guarantee top medical expertise at all times and elevate every unit to adequate safety levels.

Women and families have already endured excessive delays.

The nation should rank as the safest globally for childbirth, and the Liberal Democrats will persist until that goal materialises.

The party advised the proposals would assist in establishing Britain as the world’s safest location for childbirth.

Liberal Democrat examination of NHS figures showed 147,692 instances of postpartum bleeding in 2024.

This represents an increase exceeding 13,600 occurrences since 2020, now impacting 27 per cent of all births.

Emergency caesarean sections have similarly attained unprecedented levels.

The party’s strategy additionally demands the reinstatement of recent reductions to specialised care for complicated pregnancies and support for bereaved families.

It puts forward establishing a national maternity commissioner to supervise improvements in care delivery.

Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, noted that in her Shropshire constituency, families have witnessed the terrible impact that maternity failures can have.

It defies comprehension that essential maternity services stay understaffed and underfunded while mothers lack necessary care and the NHS expends billions on negligence compensation.

Such circumstances cannot persist.

By securing required experienced personnel, repairing deteriorating facilities and prioritising safety, every mother and infant can receive the care they merit.

The strategy tackles persistent problems in maternity provision that have continued despite numerous reviews.

Research shows that 73 per cent of maternity units lack consultant staffing during nighttime hours.

Many negligence claims connect to care provided outside standard hours.

By guaranteeing constant consultant obstetrician availability, the Liberal Democrats contend they can eradicate the heightened risk of giving birth during evenings or weekends.

A recent Care Quality Commission assessment revealed 65 per cent of maternity units did not meet safety benchmarks.

The party maintains its strategy would elevate every unit to good or outstanding safety classifications.

The recommendations encompass a fresh capital investment programme to address urgent maintenance and improvements.

The Lib Dems referenced research indicating over half of maternity units currently require restoration.

This involves repairing the 42 per cent of units needing substantial refurbishment and immediate attention for the 7 per cent facing potential imminent collapse.

The rescue strategy additionally aims to address escalating clinical negligence expenses in maternity care.

The NHS expended more than £1.3 billion on maternal negligence claims in 2024 alone.

Since 2019, the cumulative total has reached an estimated £27.4 billion across England.

The Liberal Democrats maintain that allocating resources toward safer care will diminish these long-term expenses.

The party observed that emergency caesarean rates have increased beyond doubled since 1999.

The Conservative administration previously eliminated dedicated funding for complex pregnancies and bereavement services.

Allocations decreased from £95 million to £2 million.

The Liberal Democrats commit to reinstating this funding entirely.

Their strategy aims to address the growing complexity and hazards in maternity provision. It seeks to guarantee no woman receives inferior care due to timing or facility condition.

With maternity negligence claims consuming a substantial portion of NHS resources, the party contends that preventive investment represents both an ethical and financial imperative.

The Liberal Democrats believe their strategy will help rebuild confidence in maternity services and support women during one of life’s most significant experiences.

By prioritising staffing, infrastructure and clinical oversight, they aim to eradicate preventable harm and enhance safety for every family across Britain.