Since 1st January 2013, all maternal deaths in the UK have been reported to MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK).1 This was a major change from the previous reporting system and, as so often with change, it provoked anxiety amongst some and optimism in others. Should such change be a cause of concern?

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) has its origins in the 1920s in England and Wales, but its roots started in the late 19th century, with local enquiries into causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, and the social backgrounds of those who died. It has become one of the longest running audits in healthcare in the world; reported on a triennial basis, it includes every death of a woman up to …