NHS leaders have told the NHS Alliance that the current organisation of maternity care is "not fit for purpose", the body has said, adding that "difficult decisions" lie ahead.
The Alliance warned that some maternity services may need to be consolidated. It did not set out specific proposals in its statement but said the scale of the challenge will require choices about how services are arranged and delivered.
The warning suggests a review of how maternity care is structured across the NHS, with potential implications for where and how mothers and babies receive services. Consolidation typically involves concentrating care in fewer sites, a strategy proponents argue can support specialist staffing and safety, while critics say it can reduce local access.
The Alliance's comments are likely to prompt discussion among health service leaders and policymakers about options for addressing the concerns it has raised. The organisation said the decisions ahead will be difficult, underscoring the complexity of balancing service quality, workforce constraints and geographical access to care.