The NIHR Inequalities Challenge: Maternity Disparities Consortium will unite higher education, NHS, community and voluntary organisations to close the most critical gaps in maternal care.

Professor Judith Rankin, consortium co-lead for research and capacity development, Newcastle University, said: ‘This funding represents a critical opportunity to make the step change we need to improve outcomes for women and their babies. Alongside the research, the consortium will be investing in tomorrow's research leaders today to ensure we have the capacity to deliver on improving pregnancy outcomes, access to, and experience of, care.'

The NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium will bring together clinicians, researchers, women, families and communities across the UK to develop practical, evidence-based solutions that can improve care, reduce avoidable harm and support better outcomes for mothers, babies and families.

The consortium is a first of a series of NIHR Inequality Challenge focused fundings secured by the University of Birmingham which also includes the NIHR Cardiovascular Inequalities Challenge.