Confidential inquiry helps to minimise maternal risks

Confidential inquiries into maternal deaths continue to find that 40% of such deaths are attributable to substandard care, but do these reports lead to appropriate action to reduce the risks? On p 1431 Benbow and Maresh report a questionnaire audit which suggests that they do. Among the maternity units surveyed, most were consultant units in acute hospitals with ready access to blood transfusion and intensive care. Most had also produced guidelines for obstetric emergencies. Comparing the figures for 1997 and 1993 leads the authors to conclude that confidential inquiries have a role in minimising maternal risk.