The State of Maternity Services report, giving an overview of maternity care across the entire UK, was launched in Parliament this week with the help of Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

The major new report, produced by the Royal College of Midwives, sets out the pressures facing today’s NHS maternity services. It highlights the 22% rise in births in England since 2001, including a 71% rise in births to women aged 40 or over. The report also points to an ageing midwifery workforce in England, and calls for more midwives to be trained to overcome these challenges.

In the South East as a whole, whilst births are up 20% on 2001, midwife numbers have risen more slowly, by 16%. London is the only region in England that has increased midwife numbers faster than birth numbers have risen.

Commenting, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives Professor Cathy Warwick said, “The RCM is very proud to publish this new report, which we hope to produce every year. That will help us track changes to maternity services over time.

“We currently have a record number of midwives in post, and that’s great, but the unrelenting baby boom means that more are needed. Right now what the report tells us is that we need to redouble our efforts to get more midwives into the profession, and to give women real choice over where to give birth. Yes, finances are under strain across the public sector, but I would argue that pregnant women and babies shouldn’t be near the front of the queue for cuts, especially when investment right at the start of life has been shown to pay dividends in the years that follow.

“It was a real pleasure to have Andrew at the launch of the new State of Maternity Services report. He takes a keen interest in midwifery and has helped the Royal College of Midwives question government policies on maternity issues. His support is really appreciated.”

Andrew said:  “I am pleased to support the Royal College of Midwives and their local members.  Midwives do a great job and I know how highly their work is valued by my constituents.  I will work with the Royal College in keeping up the pressure to recruit and retain midwives, especially in high housing cost areas like ours.”

The RCM’s State of Maternity Services report is available as a pdf online at http://www.rcm.org.uk/college/policy-practice/government-policy/state-of-maternity-services/