Jeremy Hunt Calls for NHS Action on Rare Childbirth Condition
Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, has urged leading medical professionals to enhance efforts in detecting a rare childbirth complication that can cause fatal bleeding within minutes. He is supporting a campaign aimed at improving the NHS's identification of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), a condition where the placenta attaches abnormally to the womb.
Campaign Launched After Hospital Failures
The campaign was initiated by Amisha Adhia and her husband, Nik, after five hospitals failed to diagnose her PAS. Hunt has written to Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), requesting that concerns raised by the Adhia family and other women be considered in the revision of guidelines for PAS management.
In his letter, Hunt highlighted that Amisha Adhia experienced a near-miss case despite assessments across multiple London NHS trusts, including specialist PAS centres. She was repeatedly reassured that accreta was unlikely because her placenta was not low-lying. Fortunately, an obstetrician eventually identified her condition, allowing for proper care and a safe birth of her daughter, Ishaani, last September.
Political Support and Demands for Change
Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians have joined Hunt in demanding an overhaul of NHS advice on PAS. Hunt, serving as chair of Westminster's all-party parliamentary group on patient safety, emphasized the campaign's goals: improved national surveillance, better risk recognition, and enhanced staff training for PAS.
Amisha Adhia stated that the RCOG's maternal health guidelines are outdated and need reexamination. She noted that since the Guardian reported on PAS, frontline midwives, obstetricians, and more families have come forward with similar experiences, indicating a systemic issue rather than an isolated incident.
RCOG Response and Medical Insights
Dr Alison Wright confirmed that the RCOG will publish updated guidance for doctors in the summer. She explained that placenta accreta is a serious complication where the placenta sticks to the womb muscle or nearby structures, potentially causing heavy bleeding and trauma during childbirth. Early identification through scans and follow-up imaging is crucial for planning care with specialist teams to improve outcomes.
Concerns Over National Data and Strategy
Philip Hunt, a former Labour health minister, expressed serious concerns about the NHS and RCOG's handling of PAS, noting the lack of a clear national picture on affected women, identification consistency, and maternity unit preparedness. He urged Health Secretary Wes Streeting to mandate NHS reporting of PAS cases and develop a national strategy for better detection and treatment.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats' health spokesperson, added that missed PAS cases show the current system is failing to identify risks. She called for better training to ensure early detection and proper care, emphasizing the need for government collaboration with the NHS to address these life-threatening gaps.
