Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Poulter and Rehman Chishti

Tuesday 15th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to support the recruitment and training of midwives.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr Daniel Poulter)]

The Government are committed to ensuring that the number of midwives in training matches the needs of the birth rate. There are now over 800 more midwives working in the NHS than there were in May 2010, and a record 5,000 currently in training.

[Rehman Chishti]

The Oliver Fisher neonatal intensive care unit at Medway Maritime hospital in my constituency is an excellent charity that looks after approximately 900 premature and sick new-borns each year. What further midwife support will the Government give to such care units?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Poulter and Rehman Chishti

Tuesday 23rd October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

T4. Will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming the progress that has been made to reduce mixed-sex wards and improve patient privacy at Medway Maritime hospital in my constituency?

[Dr Poulter]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the Government’s success in reducing mixed-sex wards not just in his hospital but throughout the NHS—we inherited a very different situation from the previous Government. Medway has been a pioneer in that area and my hon. Friend is right to commend the hospital and I put on record my thanks for all that it is doing.