Emergency Ambulance Use and Health Inequalities in Maternity Care Key Messages Underserved women rely on ambulances more often. Black women and those in the most deprived areas are over-represented among ambulance users during the perinatal period. Ambulance services are a vital but overlooked maternity care provider, acting as a critical first point of help for many vulnerable women. Ambulance use is linked with poorer outcomes. Women who call an ambulance during the perinatal period, and their babies, are more likely to experience severe complications. Improving equity and the point of access in maternity pathways for women in the perinatal period is essential. Better access, clearer pathways, and culturally competent training for ambulance crews could reduce inequalities and improve outcomes. Bias and judgemental attitudes from care providers were evident across multiple care access points: and appeared to compound women’s experiences, with potential implications for objective assessment, clinical decision-making and equitable care delivery.
1