Quality of NHS care plummeting because Government failed to predict massive rise in immigrant births

Four in 10 of those questioned in a survey for the Royal College of Midwives said care is worse as a direct result of the rising birth rate - and was putting mothers and babies at risk.

Almost all - 91 per cent - said the birthrate had shot up on their wards over the past few years, putting their units under intolerable pressure.

Overloaded: Midwives think the birthrate increase on their wards over the past few years is making the quality of care worse

The warning comes amid reports that maternity wards are being forced to turn away expectant mothers because they cannot cope with the soaring demand.

Spending on NHS maternity services has increased from £1 billion to £1.6 billion under Labour. But it has not been enough to cope with increased birthrates.

The number of babies born to British mothers has fallen by around 44,000 a year since 1997, while the number born to foreigners is up 64,000 a year.

This has raised the overall birth rate to its highest for 26 years. Almost 40,000 more babies were born in 2006 than officials at the Department of Health expected.

And the increased workload for midwives has led many mothers to complain of being left alone and terrified during labour.

And now the survey shows that this is having and impact on the way midwives work, with many unable to spend quality time with new mothers.

The Royal College of Midwives says there is a shortage of 5,000 midwives, and the survey found that midwives believed working in the profession today was more challenging than it was five years ago.

Almost a third have seen their workload increase, cutting the time they can spend with women in their care.

Many felt under pressure, with 38 per cent rarely taking a break at work, and 48 per cent only getting a break sometimes. Just 8 per cent said they always managed to take their break.

Three-quarters (74 per cent) of midwives were working up to 10 extra hours a week, with 14 per cent working between 11 and 20 extra hours a week.

Almost two thirds of the 2,489 questioned said the extra workload was having an impact on how they felt about their jobs.

More than half of midwives saying have been verbally abused at work. While very few have been physically assaulted, 55 per cent have been shouted or sworn at.

Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: 'Midwives' pay is not keeping pace with prices, staff numbers are not keeping pace with the birthrate, and investment is not keeping pace with the demands on the service.

'The maternity care services for all women could, and should, be so much better.
'We acknowledge that most women are happy with the service they get, but too many are unsatisfied and frustrated.

'We are going to see a haemorrhage in the profession if the conditions midwives work in are not addressed. Give midwives the tools and resources to do their job and they will deliver a service of which this country can be proud.'