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| NHS maternity care varies widely | NHS maternity care varies widely |
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| An independent review of maternity services in England has highlighted huge variations in the quality of care. | An independent review of maternity services in England has highlighted huge variations in the quality of care. |
| Around 70% of NHS trusts in London were classed as "least well performing", whereas most trusts in the north were ranked fairly high. | Around 70% of NHS trusts in London were classed as "least well performing", whereas most trusts in the north were ranked fairly high. |
| The Healthcare Commission report also highlighted problems with staffing and inadequate screening checks. | The Healthcare Commission report also highlighted problems with staffing and inadequate screening checks. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced extra funding for maternity services over the next three years. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced extra funding for maternity services over the next three years. |
| It is the first time such a wide-ranging review of maternity services has been carried out. | It is the first time such a wide-ranging review of maternity services has been carried out. |
| "Least well performing" | "Least well performing" |
| Just over a quarter of the 148 trusts assessed were classed as "best performing" on 25 factors which included screening tests, ante-natal care and midwife support. | Just over a quarter of the 148 trusts assessed were classed as "best performing" on 25 factors which included screening tests, ante-natal care and midwife support. |
| But 21% of trusts fell into the "least well performing" category. | But 21% of trusts fell into the "least well performing" category. |
| In London, antenatal and postnatal care tended to be consistently poorer, with women not having as many checks as recommended, and inconsistent quality of care around the time of birth. | In London, antenatal and postnatal care tended to be consistently poorer, with women not having as many checks as recommended, and inconsistent quality of care around the time of birth. |
| In contrast, in the North, 33 out of 44 trusts were ranked as "better performing" or "best performing". | In contrast, in the North, 33 out of 44 trusts were ranked as "better performing" or "best performing". |
| Women can be emotionally traumatised by a lack of support when they are in labour or coping with a new baby Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust How does your trust rate? class="" href="/1/hi/health/7207713.stm">"It was really frightening" | |
| The review, which also took into account a survey of 26,000 mothers, was launched in response to concerns about maternity services. | The review, which also took into account a survey of 26,000 mothers, was launched in response to concerns about maternity services. |
| Data collected from trusts showed that 40% of ultrasound scans carried out fail to fully check for abnormalities in unborn babies. | Data collected from trusts showed that 40% of ultrasound scans carried out fail to fully check for abnormalities in unborn babies. |
| A quarter of trusts reported breast feeding initiation rates of 58% or less, while the highest performing trusts reported rates of 78% or more. | A quarter of trusts reported breast feeding initiation rates of 58% or less, while the highest performing trusts reported rates of 78% or more. |
| A third of hospitals did not have the recommended level of attendance by consultants. | A third of hospitals did not have the recommended level of attendance by consultants. |
| Not unsafe | Not unsafe |
| And nine trusts had only 26 midwives per 1,000 deliveries compared with an average of 31 midwives per 1000 deliveries - experts recommend 36 per 1,000 to achieve one-to-one care. | And nine trusts had only 26 midwives per 1,000 deliveries compared with an average of 31 midwives per 1000 deliveries - experts recommend 36 per 1,000 to achieve one-to-one care. |
| Anna Walker, the Commission's chief executive, said care in the worst performing trusts was not unsafe and they would take immediate action if it was. | Anna Walker, the Commission's chief executive, said care in the worst performing trusts was not unsafe and they would take immediate action if it was. |
| She added that there were real concerns about maternity care in London and trusts need to "rise to the challenges" faced in the capital. | She added that there were real concerns about maternity care in London and trusts need to "rise to the challenges" faced in the capital. |
| Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "Women can be emotionally traumatised by a lack of support when they are in labour or coping with a new baby, and can be left needing months of physical or psychological recovery with long-term scars." | Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "Women can be emotionally traumatised by a lack of support when they are in labour or coping with a new baby, and can be left needing months of physical or psychological recovery with long-term scars." |
| Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said maternity care was suffering from lack of funds and midwives. | Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said maternity care was suffering from lack of funds and midwives. |
| Extra funding | Extra funding |
| "Midwives want to give high quality care but they are pushing a large rock up a very steep hill." | "Midwives want to give high quality care but they are pushing a large rock up a very steep hill." |
| The Royal College says 5,000 extra midwives are needed, to cope with the rising birth rates. | The Royal College says 5,000 extra midwives are needed, to cope with the rising birth rates. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced extra funding for maternity services that will increase over the next three years to reach an additional £122m annually. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced extra funding for maternity services that will increase over the next three years to reach an additional £122m annually. |
| He said the funds would help ensure women get a choice over where to give birth, improve flexibility of maternity services' opening hours and increase the number of midwives and support staff. | He said the funds would help ensure women get a choice over where to give birth, improve flexibility of maternity services' opening hours and increase the number of midwives and support staff. |
| "I want to see the NHS delivering a gold standard of maternity services for women in every part of the country," he said. | "I want to see the NHS delivering a gold standard of maternity services for women in every part of the country," he said. |
| How concerned are you about levels of maternity care? Where you happy at the care you or your partner experienced when giving birth? Send us your views. | How concerned are you about levels of maternity care? Where you happy at the care you or your partner experienced when giving birth? Send us your views. |