Maternity Services Report Makes For Disturbing Reading

7.49.08pm GMT Fri 25th Jan 2008

Maternity care for mothers and babies is falling below standard

The Government's health watchdog has identified 31 NHS trusts across England where maternity care for mothers and babies is falling below the approved standard. The Healthcare Commission says more than half the country's maternity units are achieving a good overall standard, but nearly 40% of ultrasound scans fail to check fully for abnormalities.

Too many trusts do not adequately support mothers in breastfeeding and too few offer comfortable delivery rooms to encourage natural birth.

Norman Lamb MP comments "It is simply unacceptable that one in five maternity units is putting mothers and babies at risk because staff are stretched to breaking point. There simply aren't enough midwives to deliver on the Government's promise of one-to-one maternity care. With the birth rate rising, many midwives set to retire and not enough jobs for those newly qualified, the situation will only get worse."