The NHS has started vaccinating people against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), for the first time in its history. RSV, a leading cause of infant mortality around the world, is a common cause of coughs and colds but can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, which are highly dangerous to older people and young children. […]

Smoking rates among mums-to-be are at an all-time low thanks to support from NHS teams. This year also saw the biggest annual fall in smoking during pregnancy since records began, meaning 6,000 fewer pregnant women smoked when compared to the previous 12 months, protecting thousands of babies from potential harm. NHS England is working to […]

All new mums in England will receive a more comprehensive mental and physical check-up from their GP in the weeks after they give birth, thanks to new NHS guidance published today. GPs will carry out the comprehensive postnatal check-up 6 to 8 weeks after women give birth covering a range of topics such as mental […]

Premature babies are to be routinely offered a “life-changing” treatment to prevent blindness on the NHS for the first time, the head of the health service has announced today. The drug, ranibizumab, could save the eyesight of babies born with a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which affects blood vessels in the retina, […]

We are pleased to announce that Kate Brintworth has been appointed to the role of Chief Midwifery Officer for England. This follows a rigorous recruitment process, which included contributions from colleagues at NHS England and other key stakeholders including the Royal College of Midwives and a family voices panel. Providing safer and more personalised maternity […]

Pregnant women with serious medical problems will now have access to specialist treatment centres across the country. The 17 new centres of excellence will help women with pre-existing medical conditions, or conditions that arise during pregnancy to quickly get the extra care they might need. As part of the NHS commitment to halve the maternal […]

Midwives and other NHS staff have helped almost 15,000 mums-to-be in England quit smoking over just three years, new analysis shows today. Latest figures show that the smoking rate for pregnant women at the time of birth fell to 9.1% in 2021-22, the lowest annual rate on record, and down from 10.6% prior to the […]

England’s top doctor and the Chief Nurse for England have been recognised alongside dozens of healthcare staff in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours List. Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director since 2018 and a doctor for 37 years, has been knighted for his services to the NHS, particularly for his role leading the response […]

NHS England has confirmed that Donna Ockenden has been appointed as Chair of the new independent review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. In a letter to families affected today, NHS Chief Operating Officer Sir David Sloman confirmed that Donna Ockenden has accepted the role of chair of the rapid review. The […]

Up to 500 new midwives from around the world are set to join maternity teams across the country under a new NHS England initiative. As part of the NHS’s Maternity Workforce programme and its new Maternity International Recruitment Programme, midwives have been recruited from various countries, including Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Italy, India and the Philippines and […]