23 March 2007
The Healthcare Commission is to launch a major study of maternity services in England after concerns were raised about pregnancy care this week.
A survey by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, of 4,800 women who gave birth during a week in March last year, was largely positive. But the commission is sufficiently concerned by some of the findings that it will review the care offered to 50,000 mothers.
Contrary to guidance, more than half of those surveyed were left alone during labour. The study also found that postnatal care had 'barely improved' over the past ten years, despite significant investment in facilities.
The Department of Health is hoping to allay fears over the state of services by launching a maternity plan next month. It is believed this will promise that all pregnant women will have a choice of where and how they give birth by 2009.
Gwyneth Lewis, the DoH's national clinical leader for maternity services, said: 'The plan will set out how we will achieve services that provide real choice and support for women… from antenatal care through to the early child years.'
Commission chief executive Anna Walker said while the survey showed there was 'a lot to celebrate', there was still room for improvement. 'Our review will determine exactly what is happening in maternity units, staffing levels and grades, outcomes for patients and complexity of care,' she said.
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