SOLIHULL MP JOINS CALL FOR MORE MIDWIVES

11.49.32pm GMT Tue 4th Dec 2007

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt has backed an all-party motion in Westminster calling for more midwives. The motion is supported by the Royal College of Midwives and has been proposed following concerns over a £55million drop in spending on NHS maternity services in the last financial year.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"The number of NHS midwives has fallen over the past two years but we have seen the birth rate rising by 12% over five years.

"With the Office for National Statistics predicting a century-long baby boom, government need to take swift action to train and employ more midwives."

Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Norman Lamb MP also supported the call, saying "There simply aren't enough midwives to deliver on minister's promises of one-to-one maternity care."