The Government has come under fire for the declining number of maternity beds, which have decreased by 40% in some regions. Conservative leader, David Cameron, publicised new figures that show there has been an 18% reduction in the number of maternity beds for every 100,000 people – equivalent to almost 2,000 beds in the last 10 years.
In north-west London and South Yorkshire, this figure was 40% and in Leicestershire, Northants, Rutland and the south-west Penninsula authority, the number of beds has declined by 35%. The number of midwives is also failing to keep pace with the rising number of live births, the Conservatives claim.
Dame Karlene Davis, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) warns the service is “heading for a meltdown”, stating that maternity services are the last to get investment and the first to suffer cuts. A survey of heads of midwifery by the RCM showed that three quarters had seen an increase in the birthrate on their units and over 80% did not have the staffing levels they needed to cope.
“Almost 40% of midwives are set to retire over the next decade, not enough new ones are being trained to make up the shortfall, and all too often we are also seeing newly qualified midwives unable to get a job,” commented Dame Karlene Davis. "We have seen too many service cuts, too many midwives lost, and too many mothers and babies getting a service that should shame the fourth richest country in the world.”
