England Misses Maternity Safety Target as Birth Injuries Worsen

Serious perineal tears in English births have risen to 29 per 1,000 deliveries as of 2024—up 23% since 2021. The NHS aimed to halve these injuries by 2025. The target is now past, and outcomes are deteriorating. Performance varies widely between hospital trusts, indicating inconsistent adoption of proven prevention techniques. Staffing shortages among midwives and uneven implementation of evidence-based protocols explain the stalled progress.