Health
NHS leader warns up to 20 maternity units in England may close
October 19, 2026 at 05:27 AM
An NHS leader has warned that up to 20 of England's maternity units may need to close because of staff shortages and rising caesarean section rates.
- Matthew Hopkins warned that up to 20 of England's 155 consultant-led units will need to shut or change role.
- Caesarean sections rose from 33% of births in 2020 to 45% last year.
- The maternity unit at North Devon hospital in Barnstaple remained closed since August, forcing 194 women to give birth in Exeter.
- Royal College of Midwives' Hannah Leonard and RCOG president Alison Wright opposed closures, saying services must stay close to home.