Responding to interim figures from the MBRRACE-UK collaboration on maternal and perinatal mortality between 2019 and 2021 in the UK, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Leaders across the NHS will be extremely concerned by this data, which shows black women are almost four times more likely to die during, or up to six weeks after, pregnancy than white women.

"It is also troubling that maternal mortality rates for women living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as high as women living in the least deprived areas.

"NHS births are among the safest in the world, but these deep-rooted and long-standing disparities in maternal deaths are unacceptable.

"Trust leaders know the NHS can, and must, do more to improve care outcomes. They are committed to addressing inequalities in maternity care and providing high-quality personalised care to all mothers.

"It is vital the government takes rapid action to ensure trusts have the staffing and investment they need to make much quicker progress on addressing maternal inequalities."