Maternal mortality is one of the most sensitive indicators of a health system’s strength. Globally, an estimated 287,000 women died from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes in 2020, most of them
preventable. Despite decades of progress, recent trends show that maternal deaths are no longer falling
fast enough to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
The UK ranks among the safest places in the world to give birth, but that safety is not shared equally. According to the latest MBRRACE-UK report, maternal mortality is almost four times higher in Black women and twice as high in Asian women compared with White women. Women living in the most deprived areas also face far greater risks. Alarmingly, these inequalities have persisted, and in some cases worsened, over the past decade.
Why telehealth matters now
Telehealth, using digital tools like video calls, mobile apps, and remote monitoring devices to deliver
care, has emerged as one of the most promising ways to close these gaps. For maternity care, it can help address the “three delays” that lead to poor outcomes:
- Delay in deciding to seek care – By offering rapid, convenient contact with clinicians, women can access advice without travel or long
- Delay in reaching care – Virtual consultations and home monitoring reduce the need for repeated hospital visits, especially for those living far from specialist
- Delay in receiving appropriate care – Real-time data from devices like blood-pressure monitors or glucose sensors allows clinicians to spot problems early and escalate
In a country like the United Kingdom, where mobile coverage and internet access are widespread, and the NHS provides universal care, telehealth can be rolled out at scale without leaving anyone behind, provided equity is built into the design.
Transforming maternity care into practice
- Managing high blood pressure
Hypertensive disorders, such as pre-eclampsia, are a leading cause of maternal illness and death. NHS England now recommends pregnancy-validated home blood-pressure monitors for at-risk women.
Readings can be uploaded daily, with automatic alerts if levels become dangerously high, triggering a same-day clinic review.
- Supporting diabetes in pregnancy
Under NICE guidance, women with type 1 diabetes are now entitled to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). These devices, combined with virtual dietitian support and app-based data sharing, help keep glucose levels stable, reducing complications for both mother and baby.
- Digital maternity records and remote education
Platforms like Badger Notes give women direct access to their maternity records, care plans, and educational resources in multiple languages. This improves continuity of care between community midwives, GPs, and hospital teams, and allows expectant parents to track their health data.
- Expanding perinatal mental health support
Mental health conditions remain a leading cause of maternal death in the UK. Scheduled tele-check-ins between in-person visits can identify early signs of distress, provide counselling, and arrange urgent care if needed.
Ensuring telehealth works for everyone
For telehealth to be safe, equitable, and practical, certain principles are non-negotiable:
Use validated devices: Only clinically tested blood-pressure monitors and glucose sensors should be used in pregnancy.
Provide options: Telehealth must complement, not replace, in-person care. Women should always have the choice to attend in person.
Tackle digital exclusion: Loaned devices, mobile data packages, and interpreter-supported calls
can ensure deprived and minority communities are not left behind.
Integrate systems: Home-monitoring data should be directly integrated into NHS maternity records so all clinicians work from the same information.
Global potential
In low- and middle-income countries, telehealth can be lifesaving by bridging the gap between rural communities and limited specialist care. Even simple SMS-based programmes that remind women of danger signs or clinic appointments have been shown to reduce complications.
A call to action
Telehealth is not a replacement for skilled, hands-on maternity care. Still, it is one of the most powerful tools we must use to make pregnancy and birth safer for all women, regardless of postcode, ethnicity, or income.
By scaling proven telehealth pathways, such as remote blood-pressure monitoring, CGM for diabetes, digital records, and mental-health follow-up, the UK can show how technology can be harnessed to tackle both domestic health inequalities and the global maternal health crisis.
A healthy pregnancy should be a universal right. With telehealth, that goal is closer than ever.
