 News
9th October 2008
Mothers at risk on substandard maternity wardsMothers
in NHS maternity wards are suffering an increasing number of life-threatening
incidents, it has been claimed. In just two years, the number of incidents
reported to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has almost doubled from
35,428 in 2005, to 70,108 cases last year. Doctors and nurses are expected
to report any potentially serious incident in an NHS hospital to the agency, and
last year 10 per cent of mothers were involved in incidents during their hospital
stay. A spokesman for the NPSA said: ‘As we are working to promote a more
open culture in healthcare services, there has been an increase in the total number
of reports submitted. ‘This should not be taken as an indication of a worsening
of patient safety but rather an indication of increasing levels of awareness of
safety issues amongst healthcare professionals.’ However, Liberal Democrat
health spokesman Norman Lamb condemned maternity services in Britain as ‘substandard’.
‘It is scandalous that when mothers are at their most vulnerable they are
increasingly finding themselves in dangerous situations,’ he said. ‘The
Labour Government has pumped vast amounts of money into the NHS but it is not
doing enough to improve staffing levels, lessen the heavy workloads of midwives
and doctors and ensure enough equipment, beds and rooms. ‘When a mother
is at a maternity ward the least she can expect is to be safe and to be cared
for responsibly and effectively. The Government’s failure to meet this simple
standard is appalling.’ Sue Jacob, of the Royal College of Midwives, said
the level of blunders was worst in areas where the birth rate has risen most sharply,
such as London. ‘Women are constantly being bombarded with Government rhetoric
about choice, one-to- one care, named midwife and personalised care,’ she said.
‘However, the reality is far from the truth.’ There is an estimated
shortage of 5000 midwives nationally. Where to next? | 
