Lives at risk on labour wards

According to a group of leading doctors, maternity services in Britain are short-staffed and undersourced, potentially putting mums and babies at risk.

At a time when the NHS is under review, and closure has been planned for many specialist maternity wards, a group of consultant obstetricians from all parts of the UK called on the Government in a letter to The Times today to take "urgent action" to ensure safer care during childbirth.

As well as the letter, a report also comes from several medical colleges which recommends every woman must receive one-to-one care from a deicated midwife as they go through labour, with support available "within minutes" from doctors and specialists.

An extract from the letter to The Times, reads: "Existing resources for maternity services are inadequate and, while some local reconfigurations may be justified in the long-term, urgent action is needed to address staffing and skill shortages at a local lavel in current units. A rapid response is needed to ensure that maternity units are safe and have the expertise and resources needed to deliver high-quality services."

The authors of the letter urged ministers to take a look at the report and accept the recommendations that need to to take place. These include recommendations that consultants on labour wards do their rounds at least twice a day on weekends and bank holidays in addition to their regular hours.

The report also says: "We want to make childbirth even safer for mother and baby. We have the intent and the will but need the NHS to provide the systems and finding to do our jobs effectively."

Thanks to The Times, 08/10/07

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