Maternity Services

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 25th February 2025 Westminster Hall

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I commend the hon. Member for Chichester (Jess Brown-Fuller) for setting the scene so well. I thank her for sharing her personal stories; nothing sets out an issue better than a personal story. I am my party’s health spokesperson, but it is always good to give a local perspective too. I look forward to the responses from the Minister and Opposition spokespersons—the trio here today seem to be in all the debates on this subject, and I thank them for their contributions.

Our maternity services in Northern Ireland are crucial and, arguably, among the most consistent services offered by the NHS. Although all our services are important, everyone must be born and must be given the best start in life, and it is through our wonderful NHS maternity services that we are able to succeed.

My constituency resides within the South Eastern health and social care trust, which offers both midwifery-led and consultant-led care, with a fantastic focus on personalised support for mothers through their pregnancy and after labour. The trust also provides antenatal clinics, home visits and care options for expecting mothers.

Back home in Northern Ireland, in October 2024, an independent review concluded that a co-ordinated system-wide change is needed to radically improve maternity care. There are problems with maternity care not just here on the mainland, but with us back home. The Minister does not have a responsibility for that, but she has an interest in all things pertinent to Northern Ireland. Whatever the subject matter, and whenever I ask her for help, as I always do, she always responds in a positive fashion, and I appreciate that.

There are clear inequalities in services across Northern Ireland. It is no secret that the health service has witnessed extreme difficulties over the last couple of decades. More must be done to support staff and to ensure safe and quality care, so that women and families feel supported through their journeys during pregnancy and labour.

One of my constituents gave birth to her first baby just last week, and I want to record what she said, because I think that that is important. Her experience was made by the incredible student midwives who supported her and held her hand the entire way. When my three boys were born—that was not yesterday—I was there with my wife. She held my hand, and the blood circulation in my hand got less and less as my dear, loving wife’s pain increased. I say that because we have to give some credit to the student midwives who are there for what they do.

The Department of Health and Social Care has increased the number of commissioned pre-registration nursing and midwifery university places from 680 in 2013 to 1,335 in 2023. Those are good figures, but unfortunately, due to budgetary constraints, the number of places returned to the baseline of 1,025 in 2023-24. So there was an increase sometime back, but the numbers have levelled out again.

Thousands of people across Northern Ireland apply to study nursing and midwifery each year. The number of midwifery training places is extremely limited, and demand often exceeds the number of available spots. The Royal College of Midwives has noticed a downward trend in midwifery applicants and has stated that that is a concern, expressing apprehension about the significant drop in the number of applicants. For the record, has the Minister had an opportunity—she probably has—to get the opinion of the Royal College of Midwives on where we are and how we could help?

We must look at why this is happening. It could be said that, because midwifery is a challenging field to get into, many do not see the point in applying directly for it. Again, what are the Minister’s thoughts on how we improve things? Additionally, some have stated that it is easier to progress in a career by going in at entry level, as opposed to starting university after school and trying to get a job after.

There must be ambitious reform of these services to ensure that we can support expectant mothers and give them memorable and positive experiences. We often hear of horror stories, and we must allow for the best start in life for babies and families.

To conclude, we have some of the best staff in our maternity wards, and their work and dedication must be recognised. They are hammered day and daily in their jobs, due to budgetary constraints and the inability to get the support they need. I look to the Minister and the Government to give a commitment to our NHS—and, more importantly, to those who work in it—that more will be done to properly fund our wonderful maternity services across the whole of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to give families and parents the best possible start to their children’s lives. I request that the Minister have discussions with the relevant Minister in Northern Ireland, Mike Nesbitt, on what we are doing back home, so that we can work better together.