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MOTHERS and babies are dying in childbirth as a result of a staffing crisis in midwifery, the annual conference of North West TUC heard on Saturday.
Royal College of Midwives (RCM) delegate Lorna Forshaw told the conference in Warrington that a report in November “showed a significant increase in maternity deaths is happening – and that is now.”
She said that midwifery services in England were short of 2,000 midwives.
“Yesterday I was on a 13-hour shift,” she said.
“Britain faces a crisis in midwifery. The shortage of staff is chronic. We are short of the numbers needed for safe maternity care.
“This is a disgrace and unacceptable. Giving birth safely is a basic function of healthcare.”
Delegates supported the RCM’s campaign for implementation of an all-party parliamentary report whose demands included safe midwifery staffing levels, with time for personalised care, and a national strategy to support retention of staff.
