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• Topic Summary
• Data & Trends
• Supporting Documents

1. Increase breast feeding rates
2. Improve the identification of those with increased risk of poorer outcomes through the development of screening programmes and ensure the earliest possible entry into appropriate pathways of care
3. Increase the range of settings in which antenatal and post natal services are provided, including Childrens Centres
4. Increase availability of choice of birth setting (home, midwife led units and medical led units)

Workforce:

Midwives have a special class arrangement that allows them to retire at age 55.  The percentage of the workforce eligible to retire in the next 5 years in Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is 7.97%, compared to 15.02% in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This percentage equates to approximately 33.07 FTE Midwives over the next five years, 11.88 FTE in Newcastle and 21.19 FTE in Northumbria.

David Evans, Medical Director, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust stated in the consultation document that:

The primary targets in this area are to reduce teenage pregnancy. However, targets in the areas of reducing child poverty, obesity, smoking and other environmental or lifestyle areas are relevant to ensuring that the next generation arrives safely and with the best opportunities to grow and thrive that are possible. Thus the risks of not delivering in other areas known to affect maternal and child welfare will have an impact on maternal and infant mortality and wellbeing.

Medical staff

There is a national shortage of doctors seeking to train in obstetrics, which means that it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit suitably qualified doctors to staff the existing maternity units (Workforce plan, 2008)

Women from areas with high deprivation are more likely to experience problems and poor outcomes in childbirth.

Community-based care

The substantial majority of antenatal and postnatal care for women with straightforward or complicated pregnancies takes place in the community. This community-based care is provided by community midwives and/or GPs throughout the area. It includes care and support for women who choose to give birth at home. The consultation stated that work was underway to improve community care with consideration being given to innovations such as basing midwives in Children's Centres rather than GP surgeries.

Hospital-based care