30 November 2007
The NHS must fund 5,000 new midwife posts, the midwives' professional body has insisted, following the publication of a report that highlighted variations in maternity care.
A Healthcare Commission survey found that almost nine in ten women rated their antenatal care and their care during birth as 'excellent', 'very good' or 'good'. This dropped to 80% when the commission asked about postnatal care.
While these were positive results, the commission said there were wide variations in other areas. Only 43% of mothers were offered the chance to have their baby at home, despite National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance suggesting it should be offered to all.
More than a third said they were not offered antenatal classes, while 26% said they had been left alone shortly after giving birth and that this had worried them.
Royal College of Midwives' deputy general secretary Louise Silverton said the service needed to improve to meet women's expectations and government policy. 'The main way to solve these problems is simply to improve midwife numbers.
'At least 5,000 more whole-time equivalent midwifery posts are needed to provide the level of care promised by the government,' she added.
PFnov2007
