Continuous support for women during childbirth is a World Health Organisation recommendation that is rarely received by birthing people in the UK.

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"Women valued that doulas helped them to feel in control during labour and that their confidence was boosted by their support. They felt that doulas helped to explain in simpler language about how their labour was progressing, and could more clearly communicate the relationship between the passage of time, cervical dilation, pain tolerance and birth experiences." 

https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/implementing-continuous-support/

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There is overwhelming scientific evidence that the bespoke and personal support a doula offers the birthing person and their family:

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There is evidence to show that having a doula can mean:

• Reduced risk of Caesarean birth † *
• Reduced risk of instrumental birth †*
• Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth †*
• Reduced rate of induction of labour †*
• Shorter labour †
• Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience †
• Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding *
• Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding & breastfeeding at 6 weeks *

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References:

* Brigstocke S. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, vol 24, no 2, 2014, pp 157-160

† Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766.DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5