The NHS is set to launch the ABC Programme 2025 (Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth) this September, with the aim of reducing avoidable brain injuries during childbirth across England. The initiative comes after a successful pilot and is being hailed as a game-changer in maternity care.
The programme equips maternity teams with tools, training, and protocols to respond quickly to emergencies such as fetal distress or complicated caesarean deliveries. It is backed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
Teamwork at the Heart of the Programme
Launched as a £5 million initiative in 2021, the ABC programme was piloted in 12 NHS Trusts, including Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
“Our co-designed approach reduces variability in care and improves outcomes,” said Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, Director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute.
Key successes included improved emergency response times, enhanced communication between teams, and increased patient safety.
Why It Matters
Brain injuries at birth—often resulting in conditions like cerebral palsy—can have devastating lifelong consequences. The NHS’s National Maternity Safety Ambition aims to halve such injuries by 2025, and this programme is a key part of that commitment.
Dr Ranee Thakar, RCOG President, praised the initiative:
“It enables maternity teams to perform as a cohesive unit, especially during time-critical emergencies.”
Tools and Training
The ABC Programme 2025 provides:
- Multidisciplinary training for midwives, obstetricians, and anaesthetists (via Health Education England).
- Workforce planning tools to support safe staffing levels (available through NHS Resolution).
- Safety toolkits to promote learning and reduce risk (endorsed by NICE).
- Co-designed care principles involving direct input from mothers and families.
Tackling Inequality in Maternity Care
The programme also seeks to reduce disparities in outcomes, particularly among Black and Asian mothers. It aligns with the government’s pledge to address the maternal mortality gap and is supported by a wider £57 million Start for Life investment.
Gill Walton, RCM Chief Executive, noted:
“Listening to women and staff was central to the pilot’s success—and remains vital going forward.”
Public and Political Backing
On social media, reactions have been largely positive, with users praising the programme as a “huge step for safer childbirth.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented:
“We’re giving NHS staff the tools and training they need to protect mothers and babies.”
Still, the RCM warns of a shortfall of 2,000 midwives, which may pose rollout challenges.
Building on Change
The ABC Programme forms part of the NHS’s Plan for Change and supports existing safety efforts such as:
- The Maternity Incentive Scheme
- The NHS Long Term Plan to train more midwives
- Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle
- Lessons from Better Births and the Ockenden Review
What’s Next?
Future coverage will explore the programme’s rollout, its effects on Trust performance, and patient stories from across England.
For now, the ABC Programme 2025 stands as a vital step toward safer, more equitable maternity care—a future every mother and baby deserves.
