Rare pregnancy complication has put UK women into ‘emergency surgery’

Scores of women in the UK have undergone emergency surgery, including hysterectomies, due to placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), a rare but potentially fatal pregnancy complication that often goes undetected. Since the launch of a campaign in February aimed at raising awareness among NHS staff and expectant mothers, many affected women have shared their experiences of severe blood loss, organ damage, and long-term health consequences. The campaign, led by Amisha and Nik Adhia through Action for Accreta, has gathered 100 cases highlighting the frequent failure to diagnose PAS before delivery, which significantly increases the risk of life-threatening bleeding. PAS occurs when the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall, making it difficult to separate during childbirth and often blocking the cervix. The condition is linked to prior cesarean sections and assisted fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization. Among the reported cases, women have suffered extensive blood loss, with some losing up to six liters during delivery, leading to permanent disabilities such as bladder or bowel damage. One woman reported having to leave her job as an NHS operating theatre nurse due to post-traumatic stress disorder following her experience, while another attributes her child’s cerebral palsy to complications arising during emergency surgery. The dossier compiled by the campaigners reveals that 60% of the women affected were not diagnosed with PAS before delivery, underscoring a critical gap in maternity care. Campaigners argue that this reflects systemic failures within the NHS and call for urgent improvements in staff training and diagnostic protocols to better identify and manage PAS. The issue has garnered cross-party political support, with calls for a comprehensive overhaul of how the NHS addresses this condition to prevent further avoidable harm to mothers and babies. The campaign highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and better clinical practices to reduce the risks associated with PAS. As more women come forward, the evidence points to a pressing demand for healthcare providers to prioritize early detection and tailored care plans to improve outcomes for those affected by this rare but serious pregnancy complication.