NHS to Launch ABC Programme 2025: A Game-Changer to Slash Brain Injuries at Birth
This September, the NHS rolls out the ABC Programme 2025 (Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth), aiming to dramatically cut preventable brain injuries during childbirth across England. Born from a successful pilot, this initiative promises a revolution in maternity care.
Teamwork Powers Life-Saving Change
Backed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the programme focuses on arming maternity teams with vital tools, training, and protocols to tackle emergencies like fetal distress and tricky C-sections swiftly and effectively.
The £5 million project, launched in 2021, was trialled in 12 NHS Trusts, including liverpool/" title="Liverpool" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
“Our co-designed approach reduces variability in care and improves outcomes,” said Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, Director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute.
The pilot recorded faster emergency response times, better team communication, and a solid boost in patient safety.
Why Reducing Brain Injuries Matters
Brain injuries at birth, often leading to conditions like cerebral palsy, haunt families for life. The NHS’s National Maternity Safety Ambition aims to halve these injuries by 2025 — and the ABC Programme is front and centre in that mission.
Dr Ranee Thakar, RCOG President, praised the plan:
“It enables maternity teams to perform as a cohesive unit, especially during time-critical emergencies.”
Tools, Training and Cutting-Edge Care
The ABC Programme 2025 packs a powerful toolkit including:
- Multidisciplinary training for midwives, obstetricians, and anaesthetists via Health Education England
- Workforce planning tools from NHS Resolution to support safe staffing
- Safety toolkits endorsed by NICE to promote learning and cut risks
- Co-designed care principles with direct input from mothers and families
Tackling Inequalities, Winning Public Support
The programme also targets health disparities hitting Black and Asian mothers hardest. It fits with the government’s pledge to close the maternal mortality gap and links to a wider £57 million Start for Life investment.
Gill Walton, RCM Chief Executive, said: “Listening to women and staff was central to the pilot’s success — and remains vital going forward.”
Public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive on social media, hailed as a “huge step for safer childbirth.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added:
“We’re giving NHS staff the tools and training they need to protect mothers and babies.”
However, a shortfall of 2,000 midwives raises concerns about smooth nationwide rollout.
Building on Success for a Safer Future
The ABC Programme is part of the NHS’s wider Plan for Change, complementing key safety initiatives:
- The Maternity Incentive Scheme
- The NHS Long Term Plan to train more midwives
- The Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle
- Lessons learned from Better Births and the Ockenden Review
Next up: Close coverage of the programme’s rollout, hospital results, and real patient stories from across England.
The ABC Programme 2025 heralds a safer, fairer future in maternity care — one every mother and baby deserves.
