The move is part of a number of measures which the Tories pledge will give women "world- class" maternity care with more community-based services and extra funding for rural areas.

Labour has failed to deliver on promises to improve care for pregnant women and presided over a system which is overstretched and patchy, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will claim in a speech to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

An extra 3,000 midwives will be promised by 2014, and a moratorium imposed on maternity centre closures.

Maternity care could be among the key battlegrounds at next year's General Election following pledges by Labour to deliver major improvements by the end of 2009 including giving women guarantees about choice and access to antenatal care and one-to-one care during labour.

Ministers claim hundreds of millions of pounds are being invested in services including recruiting thousands more midwives although there has been criticism cash has failed to reach the frontline.

In a package of wide-ranging reforms from the Tories, private and not-for-profit health providers will be allowed to offer services in a move which could encourage the opening of new maternity units.

The current funding system, which the Tories claim has forced rural maternity centres to close, will also be reformed to take into account the extra costs of providing services in rural areas, and encourage more involvement of family members.

Mr Lansley said: "These plans will transform care for new mothers in England, from a service that is currently overstretched and patchy to one where every family gets the care and support that it needs.

"Labour haven't delivered on their promises to give women real choice, to provide proper care during pregnancy and following birth, or to help those families that are most isolated and vulnerable. Our reforms will make these things a reality.

"They will give every woman world-class care and help our maternity services play a much bigger part in strengthening our families and communities."

The NHS in the region is struggling to cope, while inspectors have raised concerns that nationally staff levels are failing to keep up with birth rates, poor access to home births and pressure on delivery suites.

Today Mr Lansley will propose allowing any provider – whether from the NHS, not-for-profit, or independent sector – to offer maternity services although this is likely to raise major questions about the viability of remaining NHS maternity units if large numbers of women go private.

Every woman expected to have a natural birth would be given the option of a home birth or in an accessible midwife-led unit, with incentives in the funding system to ensure this happened.

He claims the not-for-profit sector is often better at providing antenatal and postnatal care, and believes the move could allow more community and family-centred services.

Cathy Warwick, RCM general secretary, said: "The Conservatives are putting forward a number of interesting proposals, but good words and good intent are one thing, and real and positive action is another. We want promises made to become promises delivered and the improvements we have seen so far in maternity services continuing."


Hospital rush by nervous fathers

Nervous fathers-to-be are pushing their partners into hospital at the first sign of labour even when they would be better off at home.

Midwives recommend women relax at home in the early stages after research found they are more likely to suffer complications if admitted too soon.

But a study has found that jumpy fathers-to-be and nervous mothers-in-law are sending them early. Findings by professor of perinatal education at the University of Worcester Mary Nolan will be discussed by the Royal College of Midwives today.