Campaigners Expose 'Dangerous Gaps' in NHS Care for Life-Threatening Childbirth Condition
Campaigners are issuing urgent warnings about "dangerous gaps" in NHS care for a life-threatening childbirth condition, as a survivor shares her harrowing experience of fearing she would die due to repeated diagnostic failures. The 'Action for Accreta' campaign highlights that the UK is lagging behind other nations in identifying and preparing for Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS), a severe pregnancy complication linked to rising caesarean section and IVF rates.
Mother's Terrifying Ordeal After Five Hospitals Failed to Diagnose PAS
Mother-of-two Amisha Adhia, 36, from Ilford, revealed that five hospitals failed to diagnose her with PAS during her second pregnancy, leaving her convinced she would not survive childbirth. She described being repeatedly dismissed and reassured into danger, facing closed doors with nowhere to turn. "I said I feel like I'm going to die, I don't know if I'm going to come home once I give birth," Ms Adhia told The Independent. She even wrote a letter to her husband and son as a precaution, but tore it up, refusing to admit defeat.
Ms Adhia and her husband Nik, 37, were told by multiple NHS trusts and specialist centres that there was a "99 per cent chance" she did not have PAS. Her and her daughter Ishaani's survival is credited to consultant obstetrician Dr Chineze Otigbah, who correctly diagnosed a severe form of the condition, ensuring appropriate care during her September 2025 delivery.
Expert Warns NHS System Failing Women as Cases Rise
Dr Otigbah expressed deep concern that women are falling through gaps in the current system. "The main risk factors for PAS are C-sections and IVF, which have massively risen. The NHS has not kept up to date with this reality," she said. "PAS is missed because it's difficult to detect and has received very little clinical attention in the UK."
Placenta Accreta Spectrum occurs when the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall, risking catastrophic haemorrhage during placental removal after birth. Undiagnosed cases can lead to emergency hysterectomy or death within minutes. With caesarean births now outnumbering vaginal deliveries in England, experts warn more women are at elevated risk of what was once a rare condition. Research from UCLA indicates around 14,000 pregnancies are affected by PAS annually.
Campaign Gains Momentum with Political and Charitable Support
Since giving birth, Ms Adhia has connected with over 40 families worldwide reporting similar experiences of late or missed PAS diagnoses. The campaign is backed by leading charities, including Tommy's and Sands, and parliamentarians calling for urgent reform. Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary Helen Morgan described it as a "very, very serious problem," urging improved training and better listening to mothers' concerns.
Lord Hunt, former health minister, called for Health Secretary Wes Streeting to develop a national strategy for PAS detection and treatment, including mandatory reporting. The campaign demands updated guidelines, enhanced training, and preparation in every maternity unit, arguing current NHS guidance is outdated and underestimates case numbers.
NHS Response and Ongoing Scrutiny of Maternity Services
Donald Peebles, national clinical director for maternity at NHS England, emphasised early identification of at-risk women, noting maternity teams are trained to spot warning signs and refer to specialist centres. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson highlighted commitments to safer maternity care, including a National Maternity Investigation chaired by Baroness Amos and a £149 million investment in safer units.
The campaign launches amid heightened scrutiny of UK maternity services, with updated Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidance expected soon. Action for Accreta stresses that without urgent action, more lives will be endangered by systemic failures in addressing this critical health issue.
