Maternity Services: Sussex

From January to December 2025, the rate of postpartum haemorrhage of 1.5 litres or more at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx) was highest for Black or Black British women, at 45.6 per 1,000 deliveries, followed by Asian or Asian British women, at 35.4 per 1,000 deliveries. White women had the lowest rate at 31.8 per 1,000 deliveries. In England, over the same reporting period, the rate of postpartum haemorrhage of 1.5 litres or more was also highest among Black or Black British women, at 47.9 per 1,000 deliveries. White women had the second lowest rate in England at 32.5 per 1,000 deliveries, while Asian or Asian British women had the lowest rate, at 30.0 per 1,000 deliveries.

From January 2025 to December 2025, the rate of postpartum haemorrhage of 1.5 litres or more was highest for women living in the second-most deprived 20% of areas in England, who gave birth at UHSx, and lowest for women living in the least deprived areas, at 28.5 per 1,000 deliveries, and the most deprived areas, at 28.1 per 1,000 deliveries, who gave birth at UHSx. In England, over the same reporting period, the rate of postpartum haemorrhage of 1.5 litres or more was highest among women from the least deprived areas of England at 34.6 per 1,000 deliveries, and lowest from women from the most deprived areas, at 32.2 per 1,000 deliveries.

From January 2025 to December 2025, the rate of preterm birth at UHSx was highest in babies born to women from any other ethnic group, at 100.7 per 1,000 births, followed by women with a Mixed ethnic background, at 83.0 per 1,000 births, White women, at 78.5 per 1,000 births, Asian or Asian British women, at 70.1 per 1,000 births, and lowest for Black or Black British women, at 65.6 per 1,000 births. In England, over the same reporting period, the rate of preterm birth was highest among Black or Black British women, at 86.5 per 1,000 births. White women had the second lowest rate, at 75.5 per 1,000 births, while women from any other ethnic group was the lowest, at 73.0 per 1,000 births.

From January 2025 to December 2025, the rate of preterm birth at UHSx was much higher for babies born to women living in the most deprived areas of England, at 99.5 per 1,000 births, than for babies born to women from the least deprived areas, at 62.5 per 1,000 births. In England, over the same reporting period, the rate of preterm birth was also highest among women from the most deprived areas of England, at 88.9 per 1,000 births, and lowest from women from the least deprived areas, at 66.1 per 1,000 births.