Matthew Hopkins, director of acute care for the NHS Alliance, has warned that up to 20 maternity units in England may have to close to ensure safe childbirth services amid staffing shortages and rising caesarean section rates.
Hopkins said centralising maternity services into fewer hospitals was "inevitable" and the "right thing", though he acknowledged the changes would face political opposition. The NHS Alliance represents acute trusts across England.
The warning comes as the health system grapples with shortages of doctors and increasing demand for caesarean deliveries. No specific timeline for closures was mentioned in Hopkins' statement, nor were particular hospitals or regions identified for potential closure.
Hopkins did not detail the clinical criteria that would determine which units close, or how the centralisation would affect travel times and access for pregnant women in affected areas. The statement stands as an internal NHS assessment of service pressures rather than a formal policy announcement.