Around 20,000 pregnant women a year disclose domestic abuse to NHS midwives who lack the training to cope

From the Newshound archive · first published 20 September 2026.

Gill Walton, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, warned the figures "lay bare" what midwives already know on the ground. Experts say the true number is likely even higher, because the data covers only 74 of 118 trusts contacted and many disclosures go unrecorded. The charity For Baby's Sake, which carried out the analysis, calls pregnancy a critical window to intervene before lasting harm is done.

Midwives are often the sole professional to see a pregnant woman regularly and alone — making them uniquely placed to spot abuse.

Walton warned that spotting a disclosure is 'only the first step' and staff urgently need specialist training and resources to act.

The 20,000 figure covers current and non-recent abuse and is based on a three-year average, meaning the true annual toll could be far greater.