NHS maternal mental health services slash funding despite soaring demand

Two-thirds of specialist mental health services for mothers planned funding cuts last year despite soaring demand.

An analysis of NHS spending by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) found 27 out of 42 areas in England planned cuts totalling £3.2 million in the 2024/25 financial year.

Some areas such as Norfolk and Waveney planned to slash their budget by £257,466 - almost 5%.

It comes as NHS figures show a surge in demand for people seeking help, with 63,858 women accessing perinatal mental health services in the year to February 2025, compared to 43,053 women in the year to February 2022.

Baroness Luciana Berger, chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, told The Independent it was "deeply alarmed" by the findings.

"Our research shows that investing in perinatal mental health services is not only a compassionate choice but an economically sound one. Unaddressed perinatal mental illness takes a significant toll on families and costs the UK economy £8.1 billion a year.

"Cuts to these vital services risk devastating human consequences. Mental health remains the leading cause of maternal death. These tragedies will persist without continued investment and protection for specialist services.”

Read full story

Source: The Independent, 8 May 2025

Further reading on the hub:

• Mums with babies in NICU: postnatal maternal mental health support
• Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures: Black maternal mental health