Midwives 'pressured' by birth surge

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The Tories claim the Government's commitment to offering women a choice about where to give birth by 2009 has been derailed because of "woefully inaccurate" birth rate estimates.

Government estimates of the number of live births has been vastly outstripped by a huge increase in the fertility rate in recent years, said Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

He said each midwife now delivers almost 25% more babies each year than the Royal College of Midwives believes is appropriate because the government underestimated the number of live births by almost 40,000.

Since 2001, the number of live births has increased by 12.5% since 2001, whilst the number of midwives has increased by only 4.5%, according to figures released by the party.

Mr Lansley said: "Labour's flagship policy to offer choices to expectant mothers over where and how they give birth is underpinned by assumptions about the number of births which are wide of the mark.

"Across the country, birth centres are closing and the Government's promise of more home births is not being acted on. We are 3,600 midwives short and yet the number of midwives is going and newly trained midwives can't find jobs."

Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said a survey of heads of midwifery carried out by the college last month showed three-quarters had seen an increase in birth rate on their units and over 80% did not have the staffing levels they needed to cope.

But a Department of Health spokesman accused the Conservatives of "irresponsible scaremongering".

He added: "There are now 2,423 more midwives than there were 10 years ago. The number of students entering the profession has risen by 44%. And 80% of women are happy with the maternity services they receive. This is hardly a picture of 'chaos'."