As preterm birth affects approximately 8% of live births in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics, 2024), almost all midwives will at some point care for a woman who gives birth prematurely. Although many babies born prematurely do survive, the impact of early labour and birth cannot be ignored, and babies may go on to experience respiratory, gastrointestinal and cognitive issues as a result (Khandre et al, 2022).
At the end of last year, the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee (2024) published a report highlighting that preterm birth remains a major contributor to neonatal mortality and morbidity in the UK, and ‘a co-ordinated effort to reduce the incidence of preterm birth and mitigate its negative consequences, is therefore vital’ (House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee, 2024). The report also outlined a set of recommendations for the government, including that:
- The current national maternity safety ambition should be revised
- The strategy for women's health should specify how it will ensure that all women have access to information and advice on pregnancy planning and preconception health
- Further action is needed to ensure consistent implementation of clinical guidance related to preterm birth.
In January, the government issued a response (Department of Health and Social Care, 2025). This policy paper emphasised the challenges in predicting and preventing preterm birth, highlighting the ‘wide range of factors that contribute to a woman's individual risk’, as well as the systemic issues that the NHS faces.
In addition to outlining the initiatives already in place to prevent or reduce the negative outcomes of preterm birth, the government responded to the individual recommendations from the House of Lords' report. The responses affirmed that the government is ‘committed to ensuring all women and babies receive safe, personalised and compassionate care’ and ‘will closely examine the latest research and evidence and work closely with NHS England and [their] partners as this work progresses’ (Department of Health and Social Care, 2025).
The Royal College of Midwives (2025) has highlighted that they are ‘reassured that the government has acknowledged the issues raised’. The college noted that the House of Lords' report focused on improving care for groups most at risk, emphasising ‘the need for improvements in care’ (Royal College of Midwives, 2025).