Released on: 10 December 2013
NCT's response to the Royal College of Midwives' State of Maternity Services report
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive, NCT, says:
“NCT agrees with the conclusion of the RCM report that more midwives are desperately needed. It is shocking that there were almost 130,000 more births in England than the system was designed to cope with.
“Not only do we need more midwives, we need to use them more effectively. Many of the problems in maternity services could be addressed through better continuity of care. This means a woman being supported by a midwife that she knows and trusts throughout her pregnancy and results in better outcomes for women and babies.
“Putting in place continuity of care does not cost any more than running the current system. And it means more straightforward births and fewer premature babies. It is particularly appropriate for complex cases involving older women or obesity, which are on the increase according to this report.”
