NHS: Midwives

Baroness Wheeler Excerpts

Monday 17th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wheeler (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister accept that the Public Accounts Committee report on maternity services was pretty damning, not just in terms of midwife shortages but on the lack of overall government accountability and strategy for maternity services, the increasing clinical negligence bill and substantial regional and demographic inequalities and variations in maternity care? What are the Government doing about this and when can we expect a coherent plan in response to these issues?

[Earl Howe]

The noble Baroness is right: the PAC raised a number of very important issues, many of which we agree need close attention. I have already mentioned the work that we are doing to improve recruitment and to reduce variation in the quality of services around the country. This requires more than just government; it requires all the arm’s-length bodies with an interest to pull together and, of course, local commissioners to do their bit as well.