No one feels safe: why inappropriate referrals are putting safety in maternity care at risk (22 August 2025)

Summary

In this blog, the Charity Birthrights talks about a spate of inappropriate referrals that has recently come to their attention, involving both women and birthing people and healthcare professionals.

They say these referrals are putting safety in maternity care at risk and are calling on the government to introduce a SAFE Maternity Care Act to uphold all women and birthing people’s right to choose where, how, and with whom they want to give birth, and to ensure the state meets its obligation to provide safe, respectful, and accessible care for all.