Released on: 13 November 2015
In response Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt launching a drive to halve stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths in England, Elizabeth Duff, Senior Policy Adviser, NCT said:
“We welcome the ambition to reduce deaths of mothers and babies, but to be realised the government must ensure pregnant women receive continuity of carer. This enables women to form relationships with known midwives to identify potential problems, such as the delayed growth of an unborn baby. Evidence shows that providing continuity of carer saves babies’ lives, reduces premature births and significantly saves NHS costs.
“It’s completely unacceptable that babies born to women from poorer areas, black and ethnic minority communities and those who do not speak English are more likely to die around childbirth and this must be addressed urgently.”