Oxford professor warns of disrupted care for pregnant women in temporary housing
It follows research which found 91 baby deaths linked to temporary accommodation
An Oxford professor says pregnant women living in temporary accommodation face risks to their maternity care, particularly when they are moved during pregnancy.
Professor Marian Knight, from the University of Oxford, spoke about the dangers following new national figures linking child deaths to temporary housing.
Data published by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation shows 104 children died between April 2019 and March 2025 where temporary accommodation was considered a contributing factor.
Separate analysis from Oxford's MBRRACE-UK programme found that at least 91 babies who died in 2024 were born to mothers who had been homeless or living in temporary accommodation during pregnancy.
Professor Knight, who leads the programme tracking maternal and baby deaths, said the findings highlight the impact of disrupted care.
“If you are moved around the country in the midst of your pregnancy, the continuity of the relationships you build with the people providing your care is disrupted,” she said.
“That means you don’t get the care that you necessarily need.”
Challenges in maintaining consistent care
Around 3,300 babies are stillborn or die within the first four weeks of life each year in England.
Professor Knight said the 91 deaths linked to temporary accommodation must be understood in that context, but still raise serious concerns.
“It’s always difficult to say there is one single factor,” she explained.
“There will be many reasons why women might be in temporary accommodation. But having to start those relationships all over again with healthcare professionals will always be challenging when you’re moved.”
She said continuity of care – where women are supported by the same midwives and doctors throughout pregnancy – is key to ensuring safe and effective treatment.
Calls for simple changes
Professor Knight said one practical step could make an immediate difference: keeping pregnant women in the same area so their care is not disrupted.
“There is already guidance that women shouldn’t be moved,” she said.
“But making sure that actually happens – or that any move is local – is something we could do very quickly.”
She added that working with policymakers and local authorities as part of the programme is essential to improving outcomes.
Using data to improve services
Professor Knight also said healthcare systems could make better use of findings to strengthen maternity care.
“We could be looking at the data we already have much more regularly and using it much more quickly to drive continuous improvement,” she said.
Her work involves collaboration with organisations including pregnancy and baby loss charity Sands and Maternity Voices Partnerships to ensure research findings are shared and acted upon.
But she stressed that statistics alone do not tell the full story.
“People often think about data and forget that there are real people behind the numbers,” she said.
“We need both the numbers and women’s experiences to truly understand what’s happening and to drive change.”