Jeremy Hunt Urges NHS to Improve Detection of Life-Threatening Childbirth Complication
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt is calling for urgent improvements in the diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), a rare and potentially fatal childbirth complication. The push comes as a fresh campaign, Action for Accreta, highlights dangerous gaps in NHS care and advocates for better detection, reporting, and treatment of the condition.
What is Placenta Accreta Spectrum?
Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a condition where the placenta attaches abnormally to the wall of the uterus. This can lead to severe bleeding during and after childbirth, potentially causing catastrophic hemorrhage within minutes. The risk of PAS is linked to rising rates of cesarean sections and IVF treatments.
Campaign Highlights Systemic Failures
The Action for Accreta campaign was founded by Amisha Adhia and her husband, Nik, after five hospitals failed to diagnose Ms. Adhia’s PAS. More than 40 families have since come forward with similar experiences, indicating a widespread problem within the NHS. Ms. Adhia described being “dismissed” and “constantly reassured into danger,” fearing for her life during childbirth.
Hunt Calls for RCOG Review and NHS Action
Jeremy Hunt has written to Dr. Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), urging the organization to consider concerns raised by the Adhia family and other women during its review of PAS guidelines. He is also advocating for improved national surveillance, better risk recognition, and enhanced staff training for PAS.
Hunt, chair of Westminster’s all-party parliamentary group on patient safety, emphasized that Ms. Adhia was repeatedly told her risk of accreta was “almost zero chance” despite assessments at multiple London NHS trusts, including specialist PAS centers, because her placenta was not low-lying.
Political Support for Change
The call for an overhaul of PAS diagnosis and management has garnered support from across the political spectrum. Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians have joined Hunt in demanding action. Lord Philip Hunt, a former Labour health minister, expressed concern that the number of missed PAS cases “should raise serious concerns for both the NHS and RCOG.”
RCOG Response and Future Guidelines
The RCOG has acknowledged the seriousness of PAS and stated that it will publish updated guidance to doctors in the summer. Dr. Wright emphasized the importance of early identification through pregnancy scans and appropriate follow-up imaging to improve outcomes for women and babies.
Amisha Adhia believes the RCOG’s current maternal health guidelines are outdated and require to be reexamined.