Midwives attack cuts in maternity spending despite baby boom

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) claimed only one English region is meeting the recommended minimum staffing level for midwives.

Figures obtained by Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George showed five English regions cut spending on maternity services in 2012-13.

The East Midlands had the biggest cut, with a 15 per cent drop in spending over the year. London saw a six per cent fall, while Yorkshire, the North East and South West also had small cuts.

Separate figures also obtained by Mr George showed that just one region is meeting the recommended midwifery staffing levels.

The RCM said the figures are set against a backdrop of a 40-year high birth rate for England but the college estimates there is a shortage of 5,000 midwives in England.

David Cameron pledged to increase numbers by 3,000 before the election but only a fraction have been recruited.

Speaking at the college’s annual conference in Telford yesterday, chief executive Cathy Warwick challenged the Government to act urgently, saying health bosses were “cutting spending blindly”.

She said: “I am constantly meeting midwives and far too often they are telling me of the unprecedented demands on their time and their struggle to deliver the safe, high-quality care they aspire to. We recognise many regions are working hard to improve maternity services but these figures show there is still much to do.”

Health Minister Dan Poulter said there was “historical shortage” of midwives” and pointed to increased training rates.

He said: “The number of midwives has increased by over 300 in the last three years, and the number of health visitors by over 1,000, with more than 5,000 now in training.”

Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham told delegates: “Cutting midwives is, in the end, a false economy because you see the spending on insurance premiums and legal claims going up if there aren’t enough people on the ground to provide safe care.”