Up to 20 maternity units in England may have to shut, NHS leader warns

Exclusive: NHS Alliance's acute care director says centralisation of services inevitable' to ensure safe care

• Why are some NHS maternity units facing closure?

Up to 20 maternity units in England will have to shut to ensure mothers and babies receive safe care amid shortages of doctors and rising caesarean section rates, an NHS leader has warned.

Matthew Hopkins, the NHS Alliance's director for acute care, said centralising childbirth services into fewer hospitals was inevitable" and the right thing", but would lead to a political backlash against unpopular changes.