Cerebra welcomes the NHS’s decision to expand the Avoiding Brain Injuries in Childbirth (ABC) programme nationwide. The initiative, first piloted in 12 maternity units, provides enhanced training for maternity teams to better recognise and respond to medical emergencies during labour. By improving teamwork and communication in high-pressure situations, the programme aims to prevent avoidable brain injuries at birth.
This is a vital step forward. Brain injuries sustained during childbirth can have lifelong consequences, with conditions like cerebral palsy often resulting from complications during delivery. Around 1 in 400 children in the UK are diagnosed with cerebral palsy (roughly 2 out of every 1,000 live births)[1],[2] and many more live with other complex neurodevelopmental conditions. These children, and their families, face significant physical, emotional, and social challenges, challenges that Cerebra is committed to helping them navigate through research, support services, and innovation.
We know from our work just how critical early intervention and preventative care can be. While this programme won’t prevent every injury, it shows a welcome shift in prioritising safer births and learning from families’ real experiences. We hope this marks the beginning of further investment in reducing inequalities in maternal and neonatal outcomes, and ultimately, in supporting every child to have the best possible start in life.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-nhs-programme-to-reduce-brain-injury-in-childbirth
[1] https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/cerebral-palsy-introduction
[2] https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg145/documents/spasticity-in-children-final-scope2
