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Most say no to maternity cutbacks
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Two out of three people in England believe maternity services should be spared from NHS spending cuts, according to a poll.
The survey of more than 1,700 people for the Royal College of Midwives found those in the North East were the biggest supporters of maternity services, with 79% against cuts to spending.
Overall, only 8% of people thought maternity should be included in NHS cuts while 59% thought the current financial crisis would lead to less money being spent on maternity care.
Respondents were told maternity spending has dropped at least once in each region since the start of the current baby boom in 2001.
The RCM predicts an extra 5,000 midwives will be needed in England to deliver Government targets on maternity care, including giving one-to-one support to mothers and choice over place of birth.
Data shows that birth rates in England have increased by 19% since 2001, while the number of midwives has risen by just over 8%.
In 2001, 669,123 babies were born in England, rising to 793,752 in 2008.
The number of full-time equivalent midwives has gone from 18,166 to 19,639.
More than half of people surveyed (54%) disagreed with a statement saying maternity services are receiving enough funding, rising to 65% in the West Midlands but dropping to 47% in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Overall, 14% of people thought maternity services got a large enough slice of the NHS budget.
