Released on: 25 March 2022
The announcement yesterday of major new NHSE funding for maternity and neonatal staffing and services is an extremely welcome move.
NCT Chief Executive, Angela McConville, said: “This is very welcome news for women and babies, and the health care professionals working so hard to support them.
"We have been acutely aware of the challenges in keeping safe, personalised care in place throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, worsening what was already a system under pressure.
"Parents have been sympathetic to the health service’s challenges but have also experienced real anxiety, fear and isolation at a very vulnerable time for their physical and mental health. Mothers and babies need skilled, empathetic and timely specialist care, ideally in a relationship-based practice model.
"We believe the broad outline of the funding announced shows an understanding of the urgent need to support cultural change, strong leadership and multi-disciplinary working, as well as the boost needed to recruit and retain greater numbers of frontline staff.
"Midwives, doctors and other staff who are confident, well-trained and valued in their roles are best placed to provide the safe and personalised care that is desperately needed. We look forward to seeing further details on how this funding will be used to achieve this.”
