Released on: 24 April 2014

Midwife shortages are so severe in some parts of England that hospitals have almost one in five posts unfilled, new FOI data reveals.

In response to this, Elizabeth Duff, NCT Senior Policy Adviser said:

“This report puts an overdue spotlight on overworked midwives, battling to meet increasing demands. As a result, women are often not receiving appropriate care. Even top quality hospitals like Liverpool Women’s have found it increasingly hard to cope. It’s so important that women have reliable access to a midwife they know and trust to help ensure positive outcomes: continuity of care is essential, and is a more cost-effective model of practice.

“Recent research by NCT and NFWI showed that 60% of women wanted more postnatal support after giving birth, and 20% did not see a midwife as often as they needed in the days and weeks after birth.”

Notes to Editors:
Support Overdue: women’s experiences of maternity care, May 2013

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