NEW mums are being hit by a “concerning decline” in NHS maternity services, a health watchdog says.
Fewer women than five years ago felt they got the help they needed, a Care Quality Commission survey found.
Victoria Vallance, from the CQC, said: “These results show far too many women feel their care could have been better.
“This reveals a concerning decline over time.”
The watchdog, which polled 21,000 women who gave birth in February 2022, found 80 per cent were happy with services but said there were notable declines since 2017.
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Mothers reported being less likely to always get help during or after childbirth or to be asked about their mental health.
It comes months after investigators revealed one of the worst maternity scandals in NHS history led to the deaths of at least 45 babies in Kent.
An investigation of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust revealed staff were dysfunctional and maternity services badly run.
NHS director Matthew Jolly said: “We continue to take action to strengthen maternity services across the country.”