Birthplace in England research-implications of new evidence.

This article discusses the implications of new evidence from recently published research on maternity services across England. The Birthplace in England Research Programme was commissioned in 2007 to address key gaps in the evidence and inform those who plan, deliver, and use maternity services. These included the pattern of current services and availability of different models of care; the ways in which maternal and infant outcomes differ between settings; their comparative cost-effectiveness; and the organizational features of maternity care systems that might affect the quality and safety of care.