DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2008/0010) issued by The Government News Network on 25
January 2008
Health Secretary
responds to Healthcare Commission's Review of Maternity Services
Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced extra funding for
maternity services that will increase over the next three years to
reach an additional £122m annually. The funds will ensure mothers
will get the best possible care and are guaranteed a full range of
birthing choices.
The extra cash will support the implementation of 'Maternity
Matters', the Government's maternity strategy: It will help:
Modernise options for the place of birth - this will ensure the
NHS can offer women a choice of homebirth, birth in a midwifery
facility or in a hospital based maternity unit.
Improve flexibility of maternity services' opening hours -
to make services more convenient for mothers. PCTs will also be
able to open more community midwife centres, such as
Children's Centres, which provide care and support during and
after pregnancy.
Increase workforce capacity within maternity and neonatal
services -identified locally to meet the needs of individual
populations. Trusts will also be able to invest in additional
training for maternity and other support workers.
Promote the provision of local, easily accessible antenatal care
and postnatal services
Alan Johnson said:
"Bringing a new baby into the world is a life-changing
experience for every mother. It is only right that care is
designed around the needs of mothers and their partners from the
very beginning of pregnancy right through to personal post-natal care.
"I want to see the NHS delivering a gold standard of
maternity services for women in every part of the country. This
extra investment will help the health service to make the
necessary improvements, particularly in London. England is already
one of the safest places in the world to give birth but every
mother must feel they are properly supported, listened to and
cared for."
Responding to the Healthcare Commission's Review of
Maternity
Services, Alan Johnson added:
"The UK has maternal death rates lower than countries such
as the United States and France. The recent Healthcare Commission
survey also found that 89% of mothers rated their care as
excellent, very good or good.
"The NHS has much more work to do to ensure women receive
the most modern maternity care. Alongside the extra funding I have
announced today, we have this year made improving maternity
services a national priority for the NHS. We expect PCTs to ensure
that the best staff are in place to meet local needs and make sure
more expectant mothers can access maternity services by the 12th
week of pregnancy. We will be holding the NHS to account on
delivering improvements - mothers and their babies deserve no less.
"The Healthcare Commission will be working closely with the
Trusts who have a 'least well performing' score. They
must develop action plans to improve their performance, which will
be monitored by Strategic Health Authorities. There can be no
suggestion that the least performing are unsafe as otherwise
immediate action would be taken by the Healthcare Commission."
Notes to editors
1. 'Maternity Matters' is the Government's
maternity strategy. It was published in April 2007 and guaranteed women:
A choice of how to access maternity care - women will be able to
go directly to a midwife or via a doctor
A choice of type of antenatal care - women will be able to choose
between midwifery care or care led by both doctors and midwives
A choice of place of birth - depending on their medical history
and circumstances, women and their partners will be able to choose
between home births, or giving birth in a midwifery unit or with
midwives and doctors in hospital
A choice of place of postnatal care - women will be able to chose
how and where to access postnatal care.
2. The extra to support the implementation of 'Maternity
Matters' in 2008/09 was included in PCT baseline allocations
as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement. From
April Trusts will have access to this additional money.