A recent review of maternity safety in England has faced controversy after Dr. Bill Kirkup, a former member of the inquiry team, resigned due to the removal of criticism regarding the promotion of 'normal birth.' This campaign, which advocates for vaginal births without medical intervention, has been linked to avoidable deaths in previous investigations. The report, published by the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, found that women's voices were often ignored in maternity care.
Despite the report's conclusion that the 'normal birth agenda' did not contribute to poor outcomes, Kirkup and other critics argue that the practice has led to significant harm. The review's key recommendation for a maternity commissioner has been accepted by the government, but the omission of critical findings raises questions about transparency in the review process.