A major new report has delivered a stark warning that postnatal care across the United Kingdom is failing women due to chronic underfunding and a severe lack of specialist staff. The findings, published on 19 January 2026, paint a picture of a fragmented and overstretched system where the crucial weeks after birth are becoming a period of anxiety and neglect for many new mothers.
A System Stretched Beyond Capacity
The comprehensive analysis, conducted by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in collaboration with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and other leading charities, highlights a systemic collapse in support. Funding for postnatal services has plummeted by as much as 50% in some areas over recent years, despite a rising birth rate and increasing complexity of cases. This has created a dangerous 'postcode lottery' where the quality of care a woman receives depends entirely on where she lives.
Staffing shortages are at the heart of the crisis. There is a critical lack of health visitors and midwives, with many existing professionals reporting unsustainable caseloads. The report notes that visits from health visitors have been drastically reduced, sometimes to just one mandatory check. This leaves countless women struggling with physical recovery, breastfeeding challenges, and mental health issues without professional guidance.
The Devastating Impact on Mothers' Health
The consequences of this inadequate care are severe and far-reaching. The report underscores a direct link between poor postnatal support and worsening maternal mental health. One in four women experience mental health problems during pregnancy or within the first year after birth, yet many are not identified or supported due to rushed or non-existent check-ups.
Physical health is also being compromised. Issues such as painful perineal tears, incontinence, and other birth injuries are going untreated because women are not given the opportunity to discuss them with a specialist. The traditional six-week postnatal check with a GP is often too brief and fails to address the full spectrum of a mother's recovery needs.
"Women are being left to cope alone, often at the most vulnerable time of their lives," a spokesperson from the NCT stated. "This isn't just about inconvenience; it's about serious health outcomes being ignored."
Calls for Urgent Investment and a National Strategy
The coalition behind the report is demanding immediate government action. Their key recommendations include:
- A significant and ring-fenced funding increase for community postnatal services and health visiting teams.
- The development and implementation of a mandatory national minimum standard for postnatal care, ending the postcode lottery.
- A major recruitment and retention drive to tackle the shortages of midwives and health visitors.
- Ensuring every woman has access to continuity of carer throughout the postnatal period, building on existing relationships.
The Royal College of Midwives has echoed these calls, warning that the current model is unsustainable and puts both mothers and babies at risk. They stress that investing in the postnatal period is an investment in the long-term health of families, potentially reducing future burdens on the NHS from untreated conditions.
As the report concludes, the message is clear: the UK's approach to postnatal care requires a fundamental overhaul. Without urgent political will and financial commitment, the system will continue to fail a generation of women, with lasting repercussions for society as a whole.
