National Law Firm Irwin Mitchell Organises Top-Level Summit To Improve Healthcare

Campaigners are staging a top-level summit aimed at tackling maternal health disparities among South Asian women – believed to be the first conference of its type in the UK.

The inaugural South Asian Maternal Health Conference is being organised by national law firm Irwin Mitchell and is due to be held later this month.

It’s being spearheaded by one of the firm’s lawyers Geeta Nayar who has lived with the impact of a birth trauma injury for 16 years.

The conference will feature a number of experts of Asian heritage, who will be sharing their expertise in “order to truly address the disparities in maternal health outcomes.”

Geeta sustained a third-degree perineal tear and nerve damage during the delivery of her daughter in 2008. Despite surgery and extensive rehabilitation, she continues to struggle with pain, scar tissue and incontinence that affect her daily life.

She is campaigning for equitable and safe maternity care to be a right for all women. She says research has found that for decades South Asian women have experienced disproportionately poor outcomes in maternal and neonatal care. Mums are at higher risk of dying and complications such as gestational diabetes, post-partum haemorrhage, stillbirth and pre-term birth.

Geeta said: “My journey began 16 years ago, and what followed was years of questions – why had this happened to me and why hadn’t I been informed of my greater risk of injury?

“At that time, I had no idea that Asian women were at higher risk of OASI – obstetric anal sphincter injury – nor that maternal outcomes varied so widely based on ethnicity.  What began was a long journey of repair surgeries and procedures.  My daughter also needed treatment after suffering her own injuries.

“I remain doubly incontinent and the impact on my life and my family has been huge.”

Find out more on Geeta’s story

In 2015, Geeta was asked to get involved in the start-up of a new charity, The MASIC Foundation, which is the only organisation that supports women with OASI. She found, however that she was the only South Asian woman who was speaking out about the often taboo topics of maternal injuries, incontinence, stomas and dyspareunia – painful sex.

Geeta, who also recently gave evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma Inquiry, added: “Birth trauma remains a taboo topic, particularly in South Asian communities where there may be various factors such as language barriers preventing women from openly talking about it.

“In order to truly address the disparities in maternal health outcomes, I felt there needed to be a collaboration between policy makers, healthcare providers, mums, birth injury charities and organisations to discuss effective ways in achieving equity in care for South Asian women and helping to empower them.

“This is why the conference, which is the first of its kind, is so important, and we’re so proud to have so many experts joining us.  We don’t just want to talk about it though, we want the event to generate meaningful actions to take forward to improve healthcare.”

The event is being held at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ headquarters, with the President Dr Ranee Thakar among the speakers on the day.  She said: “As a college, we’re committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure better outcomes for all women and reducing inequalities in care for those from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background.

“We’re pleased the South Asian Maternal Health Conference will be taking place at our Union Street building.  It aims to identify positive and meaningful ways to address these disparities and achieve equity in maternity care.

“In the run-up to the election, the college is calling for the next UK Government to commit to a funded, time-limited target to end the higher risk of maternal mortality among ethnic minority women and for those living in more deprived areas.”

Other experts will include Baroness Shaista Gohir, CEO of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, Professor Habib Naqvi, the director of NHS Race and Health Observatory, Wendy Olayiwola, the National Maternity Lead for Equality with NHS England, and Nighat Arif, a GP and resident doctor on BBC Breakfast and ITV’s This Morning who specialises in women’s health.

The risks facing Asian women

Geeta explains that there has been limited research into the maternal disparities faced by Asian women.  However, the following statistics provide an idea of the scale of the problem.

• Maternal death rates in women from Asian backgrounds are double that of white women;
• South Asian women have an up to six times greater risk of suffering severe perineal injury, also known as third and fourth degree tears;
• South Asian women are nearly twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to white women. They also have a higher risk of poor longer term health outcomes following a pregnancy involving gestational diabetes;
• In women of South Asian origin, the risk of pre-eclampsia, a condition characterised by high blood pressure and damage to organs typically occurring after the 20^th week of pregnancy, is higher than in white women;
• South Asian women have an increased risk of post-partum haemorrhage, which is excessive bleeding after giving birth;

Find out more on the conference using the following links -

• Event overview 
• Full programme

Mum shares her birth trauma story

Harsimeran Kaur was admitted to hospital for an elective Caesarean section for delivery of her second son, who was lying sideways. 

On examination, however, her baby had moved position and it was agreed between Harsimeran and medics that she would try for a vaginal birth.

Her waters were broken and labour progressed, but Harsimeran began complaining of a severe pain that she hadn’t experienced during her previous pregnancy, despite having an epidural.

At the time, doctors reported the baby’s heart rate to be normal, but it was later identified that it had been pathological – indicating a need for urgent delivery – on more than one occasion.

Harsimeran, from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was eventually instructed to push, but she was in so much pain that she convulsed off the bed.  A doctor was called into the room and performed an ultrasound scan, which found there was blood in Harsimeran’s abdomen.

She was rushed to theatre for a C-section, where it was discovered that she had a 15cm rupture in her uterus and suffered a large haemorrhage.  She lost around three pints of blood.

Harsimeran, 42, was left psychologically traumatised by what happened, and is unable to carry any more children.

Following her ordeal in August 2021, Harsimeran instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care.  The Health Trust admitted the rupture should have been avoided.

Irwin Mitchell is now working with the Trust to agree a settlement for Harsimeran to ensure she has access to the ongoing treatment and therapies she needs. 

Harsimeran is supporting Irwin Mitchell’s South Asian Maternal Health Conference to help improve care.

By telling her story she hopes to raise awareness of the issues she faced and also empower women to share their stories to help affect change.

She said: “To this day, I still struggle to comprehend everything that’s happened.  I really thought I might die and my children be left without a mum; to have that go through your mind is the most terrifying and devastating thought.   

“I’ve been left completely traumatised by it all, particularly that my son was also injured. While I know that nothing can ever turn back the clock, I hope that by speaking out I can help others who may be going through something similar.

“I was never aware of the information around maternal disparities in Asian women before my experience. It’s hugely important that more people open up about it and something changes to help prevent others from suffering.”

Find out more about our expertise in supporting families affected by maternity care issues at our dedicated birth injuries section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.