Hunt promises a dedicated midwife for every mother
Health Secretary says all women will see the same midwife during pregnancy, labour and birth by 2021
WOMEN will be entitled to see the same midwife throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth in an effort to cut down on maternity deaths, Jeremy Hunt has pledged. By March next year, a fifth of expectant mothers should be allocated a dedicated midwife, progressing to all women by 2021.
Currently it is not uncommon for a woman to see a different midwife at all nine or 10 of her antenatal consultations, and then another at the birth.
The Health and Social Care Secretary will this week say that continuity of care will reduce stillbirths, miscarriages and neonatal deaths and “the agony that comes with these tragedies”.
The Government has also promised a 25 per cent increase in the number of midwives in training next year, part of an ambition to train an extra 3,000 over the next four years.
The announcement follows figures published in December revealing that half of maternity units had to close their doors to women in labour because of staff shortages in 2016.
A new pay deal, announced last week, of between 6.5 and 29 per cent for NHS staff including midwives is also expected to ease the recruitment crisis. Last night, Denise Linay, from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: “If a mother sees someone different each time it can be quite difficult to pick up anything that’s wrong, but you’ve got to have the numbers.”
Research suggests women with a dedicated midwife are 19 per cent less likely to suffer a miscarriage and 16 per cent less likely to lose their baby, and the chances of avoiding a premature birth increase by 24 per cent.
Speaking at a maternity event on Tuesday, Mr Hunt is expected to say: “There are few moments in life that matter more than the birth of a child, so the next step in my mission to transform safety standards is a drive to give mums dedicated midwives who can get to know them personally and oversee their whole journey from pregnancy to labour to new parent.”
Gill Walton, chief executive and general secretary of the RCM, said: “This is very long overdue acknowledgement by the Government that England’s maternity services need more midwives… the evidence is clear this is the best way to provide the safest and highest quality care for women and their babies.” Last year a senior coroner told the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which regulates midwives, to reform its syllabus after warning that babies were at risk of death and serious injury because midwives could qualify without training to use basic equipment.
The regulator has come under scrutiny because of its handling of the Morecambe Bay maternity deaths cover-up and other scandals. Its conduct in the case is expected to be criticised in a report by the Professional Standards Authority due to be published this week.