WIREDGOV

Wales has the highest rates in the UK of expectant mothers who smoke or are obese.

The draft strategy says that healthy lifestyle options which positively impact on a woman and her family’s health will be actively promoted by all health professionals caring for expectant mothers.

Health services, social services and voluntary organisations will play a more prominent role as well as the traditional midwife, the strategy says.

The proposed measures, which are part of a new draft strategy being published today for consultation by Health Minister Edwina Hart, are designed to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable maternity services.

The draft strategy sets out plans to ensure that maternity services in Wales will:

• aim to be among the best anywhere in the world;
• place the needs of the mother and family at the centre of maternity care, including offering support for all new families;
• provide a range of high quality choices of care, from midwife to consultant-led services, in a range of settings that include home, hospital, or midwife-led birth centres;
• employ a highly trained workforce which is empowered to deliver; and,
• encourage a learning environment that supports research and development and use of the best evidence, with constant monitoring for quality and safety of provision.

Mrs Hart said:

“Maternity services have improved significantly in recent years with more investment in new equipment, facilities and staff. The new strategy aims to build on the achievements so far, ensure consistency in services, and support across Wales.

“With nearly 35,000 children born in Wales each year, and a year on year increase in the birth rate over the last five years, this draft strategy outlines how every child in Wales has a secure start in life, and that the mother, her partner and family begin parenting feeling confident, capable and well supported.

“The health of children is influenced by what happens throughout pregnancy and even before, so it is vitally important that efforts to ensure that the mother and child are safe and healthy need to start well before the birth.”

The Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Dr. Jean White, said:

“The months before and the years immediately after birth are crucial to the life chances of the mother, her child and her family. The health and happiness of future generations can be enhanced through the provision of world class maternity services.

“Pregnancy is a powerful motivator for change and a time when women and their partners, often for the first time, make positive lifestyle changes and choices in order to provide the optimal conditions to ensure the health and wellbeing of their unborn baby.

“Pregnancy therefore presents a golden opportunity to impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.”  

The consultation on the draft strategy opened on 24th January and closes on 11th April.

Wales has the highest rate of women smoking throughout pregnancy. 37% of mothers smoke at some stage during pregnancy of the year before it. 22% continue to smoke throughout pregnancy

Related Links

Consultation on the draft document ‘A Strategic Vision for Maternity Services in Wales’