Major investigations into National Health Service (NHS) maternity failings have ignited controversy due to their use of terms such as 'birthing people' and 'birthing population' instead of exclusively referring to 'women.'
Campaigners and politicians argue that this language is unscientific and adds to the distress of families affected by care scandals. They assert that only women can become pregnant and give birth, and that the use of gender-neutral terminology to describe these experiences is a disregard for women's realities.
The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos, stated that its use of 'additive language' was intended to center the experiences of women and mothers while also recognizing that not everyone who is pregnant or uses maternity services identifies as a woman. The report itself found that maternity units are 'not fit for purpose,' citing issues with hospital conditions and a continued pattern of harm, ignored concerns, and covered-up mistakes within the NHS.
This report followed a separate inquiry into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden. This investigation also found significant avoidable harm and deaths of mothers and babies due to systemic failures. That report, too, employed the phrases 'birthing population' and 'birthing people.'
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at the charity Sex Matters, criticized the language used in both reports, suggesting it was included to avoid offending the transgender lobby. She stated, 'The pain and loss is felt by mothers and fathers, but only women can become pregnant and give birth. To pretend otherwise shows shameful disregard for women harmed by these systemic failures in the NHS.'
Independent MP Rosie Duffield expressed similar sentiments, calling the repeated use of 'women and birthing people' irritating and unnecessary, particularly when she believes a small number of individuals identifying differently are the focus. Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister, commented that adopting 'activist language' that erases the role of mothers undermines the importance of the review's findings and represents an 'obsession with equality and diversity' in public services.
Families affected by maternity failings have also questioned the independence of the Amos report, renewing calls for a statutory public inquiry. Additionally, it has emerged that Dr. Bill Kirkup, an expert adviser on the Amos review, resigned due to a disagreement over 'normal birth ideology,' which he believed was not addressed strongly enough concerning patient safety consequences. Lady Amos's review, however, stated it did not find this ideology to be widespread in the maternity services visited.
Ms. Ockenden also voiced reservations about the Amos report, suggesting it did not present new information and questioned her willingness to accept a potential role as a national maternity commissioner if offered, citing concerns about potential lack of support.
Health secretary James Murray described the maternity failures in the NHS as 'on a scale that shames our society,' while Wes Streeting advocated for the passage of the Hillsborough law to improve NHS maternity services and address a 'cover-up culture' through enhanced accountability and duty of candour rules.