Newcastle University co-lead a 5-year national initiative for improvement in maternal health inequalities across the UK

Did you know that many factors, such as age, ethnicity and where you live, can influence the quality of maternal care received in the UK? That could be your mum, sister or partner. A 2026 report by MBRRACE-UK shows that the maternal mortality rate has been on the rise since 2021, with women from the most deprived areas 1.9 times more likely to die than those in the least deprived. Asian and Black women are 1.3 and 2.7 times more likely to die from poor maternal care than white women.

Newcastle University is now co-leading the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium, backed by £50 million from the NIHR.

This consortium includes expert clinicians and researchers from nine UK universities (University of Aberdeen, Bedfordshire, Birmingham, Southampton, Sheffield Hallam University, Queen’s University of Belfast, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Cardiff University and Newcastle University). The consortium is co-led by Judith Rankin, Professor of Maternal and Child Health at Newcastle University alongside John Singh Chandan, Professor of Public Health at the University of Birmingham. They, along with affected communities, aim to develop practical improvements accessible across the UK by identifying what improves care and building the expertise needed through key research.

Professor Judith Rankin showed great enthusiasm about the project, saying: “I am delighted to be part of this exciting new Consortium which will help to make the next step change we need to improve outcomes for women and their babies, and to be appointed to the role of co-Lead for Research and Capacity Development. Alongside the research, the Consortium will be investing in our future research leaders, ensuring we have the capacity to deliver on improving pregnancy outcomes, access to, and experience of, care” (Accessed from the NIHR official website).

Newcastle University’s researchers will utilise their internationally recognised research to work with local NHS trusts, councils and charity partners to design the case around women most at risk. This is especially important close to home as the North East contains 21.5% of England’s highly deprived neighbourhoods, according to the BBC.

One of the seven themes of research within the consortium is Pregnancy, Birth and Early Postnatal Maternal Health. This furthers the consortium’s goal by prioritising the improvement of key maternal risks, particularly postnatal recovery and cardiometabolic conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes, and perinatal mental health support in women.

Newcastle University’s Professor Nicola Heslehurst, co-lead of this theme, hopes the project will “address inequalities in pregnancy and postnatal cardiometabolic health and care to improve the health of women and their children throughout their lives”.

For students at Newcastle, the consortium is a reminder that research is happening on campus that aims to ensure your mum, sister or partner gets the same standard of care as everyone else.