Released on: 28 November 2024
Responding to the Care Quality Commission’s 2024 Maternity Survey, Joanna Corfield, Head of Communications and Campaigns at NCT, said:
“Falling trust, confidence and timely support - this cycle of maternity failings must end now.
“We welcome the progress made particularly in antenatal care experiences, but pregnant women and people deserve better throughout their entire maternity care journey. Safe, compassionate, and equitable care must be a non-negotiable standard in every maternity unit, without exception.
“Every parent should feel empowered, listened to, and supported during this important moment in their lives. Yet too often – especially in the postnatal period - they are denied the time and space to ask questions and receive information needed to help them make informed decisions about their care – this in turn undermines trust and impacts experiences.
“While it’s encouraging that more partners or someone close was allowed to stay after birth, postnatal care—crucial for parental and infant health—remains severely neglected. Workforce shortages and underfunding leave many mothers without urgent mental and physical health support, causing too many to fall through the cracks.
“It's time for government and health leaders to act decisively to address these failings and rebuild trust in maternity services.
“We recognise the efforts of overstretched front-line practitioners, but call for further urgent investment in maternity staffing, training, and infrastructure, alongside robust policies to tackle racial and socio-economic inequalities and provide consistent, high-quality care for all parents.”
You can read the full report here.
