Analysis found almost 29 in every 1,000 births resulted in a serious perineal tear in 2024, up from 23.5 in 2021.

The research also revealed the number of readmissions following childbirth in increased in 2024 to more than 5% of all childbirths.

Previous Liberal Democrat research found the number of maternal deaths rose from 209 in 2015-17 to 254 in 2021-23 with the NHS facing a £27bn bill for maternity failings over recent years, far more than the health service's £18bn budget for newborns over that period.

The Lib Dems called on the Government to reverse planned cuts to the national Service Development Funding for maternity services from £95m in 2024-25 to £2m in 2025-26.

Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan said: ‘It is unacceptable that, while so many women die or are injured by poor maternity care, the Government raided the key ring-fenced fund for improving maternity services. Their promises to improve safety will ring hollow until they change course.

‘If the Government is serious about ending the disaster unfolding on our maternity wards, they must reverse these cuts at once, support our hard-working NHS teams, and implement every measure in the Ockenden Review without delay.'

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Childbirth can be an incredible moment in a woman's life, but suffering from injuries, including perineal tears, can leave mothers deeply traumatised.

‘This Government inherited a failing system of maternity care which is why we opened the rapid national maternity investigation, are setting up a national taskforce and continue to put in place perinatal pelvic health services to reduce the rates of perineal tears.

‘Claims of funding cuts in the 2025/26 budget are simply wrong. Overall funding has increased by £26bn, and local NHS systems have been given the freedom to spend the funding to best meet the needs of their local community, with the Government holding them to account on whether they deliver better outcomes for patients.'