Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered midwives were employed per 1,000 births in (a) 1980, (b) 1990, (c) 2000, (d) 2010 and (e) the latest year for which figures are available.

There are now 1,158 additional whole time equivalent registered midwives compared to 2010. The following table shows the number of registered midwives per 1,000 births for each of the years requested.

Number of registered midwives per 1,000 births in England as at 30 September for each specified year

Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre

Notes:

1 Prior to 1982, midwife data is taken from the Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for England (HPSSS). Data from HPSSS contains hospital-based staff only and is therefore not comparable with later years.

2 A new system of occupation coding for NHS non-medical staff was introduced in 1995. The new codes classified staff according to what they do rather than the terms and conditions under which they are employed. Figures based on new occupation codes are not directly comparable with those based on the old payscale classification, therefore figures since 1995 are not directly comparable with earlier years.

3 Figures are calculated on the numbers of all still and live births in England for each specified year.

4 Figures are calculated on the full time equivalent number of registered midwives. Midwife data is as at 30 September each year.

5 Figures are rounded to one decimal place.

6 These statistics relate to the contracted positions within English NHS organisations and may include those where the person assigned to the position is temporarily absent, for example on maternity leave.