RCN response to Healthcare Commission Review of Maternity Services
Published: 25 January 2008
Commenting on the Healthcare Commission (HCC) Review of Maternity Services published today (Friday, 25 January 2008), Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said: “Having a baby is an exciting time for a woman but it can also be a time when many feel at their most vulnerable. We know that midwives desperately want to give mothers the kind of support and care they deserve but they simply do not have the time and resources to do so.
“That such a large number of women still rate their care as excellent is a real credit to staff who are often working incredibly hard in difficult circumstances. However, this report shows that far too many mothers and babies are being failed by maternity services. Reducing post-natal visits will especially impact on those mothers with mental health needs following birth and those who need help with breast-feeding.
“We know that where there are more trained midwives, mothers and babies do better. Instead, midwives find themselves unable to give the quality personalised care mothers and babies were promised by the government because service cuts and reconfigurations have led to smaller maternity units and some birth centres being closed. If the government is serious about making good the pledges in its “Maternity Matters” strategy, then it needs to invest in more midwives and training as a matter of urgency because new mothers deserve better.”
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Notes to Editors
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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.