The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the Government and NHS England’s decision to slash crucial ringfenced maternity service funding as ‘utterly shocking’.
The devastating decision revealed by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) on the eve of the RCM’s national conference, will see national Service Development Funding (SDF) for maternity services drop from £95m in 2024-25 to just £2m in 2025-26.
Commenting, the RCM’s Chief Executive, Gill Walton said:
“These budget cuts are more than shocking, they will rip the heart out of any moves to improve maternity safety. The Government has taken a wrecking ball to the work that’s being done up and down the country to improve maternity safety, something which is desperately needed. What they’ve done is an insult to the women and families who have received care that has fallen short, the same women and families who have campaigned so hard to make maternity safety a priority for successive governments. They are just as insulting to the midwives and wider maternity teams who are working tirelessly to drive safety improvements across maternity services in England. Furthermore, these cuts go against the Government’s very own commitment to reduce inequalities and poor outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic women.”
The Government’s decision will see the funding made available following Donna Ockenden’s report into maternity failings at Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals Trust disappear at the stroke of a pen. This funding would have allowed for extra posts in services to support enhanced care for complex pregnancies, multiple births or bereavement care and support. All those roles will now be at risk says the RCM.
Gill added:
“The current focus of the 3-year plan is to have standards and structures that underpin safer, more personalised, and more equitable care how will this now be achieved? Also, at a time when the NHS is struggling to retain midwives, they need to be doing all they can to grow, retain and support our workforce. Equally developing and sustaining a culture of safety, learning and support which we know needs to be achieved at pace will now also be derailed. If maternity services truly keep Wes Streeting awake at night, why on earth has he made such a short-sighted decision that is going to compromise the delivery of safe care in every way? It’s utterly unacceptable.”
ENDS
