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| Watchdog urges maternity action | Watchdog urges maternity action |
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| Some NHS trusts in England need to do more to make maternity services safer and improve choices for mothers, says the Healthcare Commission. | Some NHS trusts in England need to do more to make maternity services safer and improve choices for mothers, says the Healthcare Commission. |
| A survey of 150 trusts by the watchdog found low staffing levels and poor facilities in some hospitals. | |
| Midwives said ministers would struggle to meet a promise to allow every mother to choose where she gave birth by 2009. The government said it was providing £330m to help recruit 4,000 midwives by 2012 and was "listening" to mothers. | |
| I don't ever want again to be reading another report into high death rates at a maternity unit Sir Ian KennedyHealthcare Commission | I don't ever want again to be reading another report into high death rates at a maternity unit Sir Ian KennedyHealthcare Commission |
| The report was commissioned after a series of separate Healthcare Commission investigations into deaths at maternity hospitals revealed similar problems. | The report was commissioned after a series of separate Healthcare Commission investigations into deaths at maternity hospitals revealed similar problems. |
| In total, 150 NHS trusts in England were involved, and services from the start of pregnancy through to postnatal care were probed. | In total, 150 NHS trusts in England were involved, and services from the start of pregnancy through to postnatal care were probed. |
| The report revealed some trusts had as few as two beds available per 1,000 births, meaning that each bed was used, on average, by more than one woman in 24 hours. | The report revealed some trusts had as few as two beds available per 1,000 births, meaning that each bed was used, on average, by more than one woman in 24 hours. |
| Only 16% of units had one bathroom per delivery room, and fewer than half of the women surveyed reported that the toilets were "very clean". | Only 16% of units had one bathroom per delivery room, and fewer than half of the women surveyed reported that the toilets were "very clean". |
| Restricted choice | Restricted choice |
| The report found that some hospitals were far worse staffed than others, with a ratio of fewer than 23 midwives per 1,000 births, compared with 40 per 1,000 in the most generously staffed units. | The report found that some hospitals were far worse staffed than others, with a ratio of fewer than 23 midwives per 1,000 births, compared with 40 per 1,000 in the most generously staffed units. |
| In the patient survey, 89% of women said they had been happy with their experience during pregnancy and birth. | In the patient survey, 89% of women said they had been happy with their experience during pregnancy and birth. |
| However, while the majority of women were being offered some degree of choice, such as a midwife-led unit, or a home birth, it said two-thirds of trusts could currently offer only a consultant-led service in its hospitals. | However, while the majority of women were being offered some degree of choice, such as a midwife-led unit, or a home birth, it said two-thirds of trusts could currently offer only a consultant-led service in its hospitals. |
| Labour pledged in its 1995 manifesto that by 2009 all women would have a choice of birth location, and restated this in its "Maternity Matters" document published last year. | Labour pledged in its 1995 manifesto that by 2009 all women would have a choice of birth location, and restated this in its "Maternity Matters" document published last year. |
| Call to action | Call to action |
| Sir Ian Kennedy, the Healthcare Commission chairman, said that many hospitals had made improvements already as a result of the review, but problems remained. | Sir Ian Kennedy, the Healthcare Commission chairman, said that many hospitals had made improvements already as a result of the review, but problems remained. |
| "There is no doubt that the report contains some tough messages," he said. | "There is no doubt that the report contains some tough messages," he said. |
| "There is clearly more to be done to improve the quality of clinical care as well as the experiences of women." | "There is clearly more to be done to improve the quality of clinical care as well as the experiences of women." |
| He added: "I don't ever want again to be reading another report into high death rates at a maternity unit - I don't want our investigators to be again describing to a young family what happened to their mum." | He added: "I don't ever want again to be reading another report into high death rates at a maternity unit - I don't want our investigators to be again describing to a young family what happened to their mum." |
| The Department of Health's chief nursing officer Christine Beasley said: "Women tell us they want more choice in their maternity care, including how and where they give birth, and we are listening. | The Department of Health's chief nursing officer Christine Beasley said: "Women tell us they want more choice in their maternity care, including how and where they give birth, and we are listening. |
| "That is why, in January, we announced an additional £330 million funding and action to recruit an additional 4,000 midwives by 2012. | "That is why, in January, we announced an additional £330 million funding and action to recruit an additional 4,000 midwives by 2012. |
| "Some trusts are doing well and we will work with those trusts who need more support." | "Some trusts are doing well and we will work with those trusts who need more support." |
| However, Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said that maternity services still did not appear to be a priority, and there was no evidence to suggest that the midwife target would be met. | However, Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said that maternity services still did not appear to be a priority, and there was no evidence to suggest that the midwife target would be met. |
| She added: "There is also no evidence that the promises in the Maternity Matters document for more choice for women are anywhere near being met." | She added: "There is also no evidence that the promises in the Maternity Matters document for more choice for women are anywhere near being met." |