If the NHS here in the South West issued a loyalty card for regular users, my family would be doing quite well, writes Stuart Bonar, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Plymouth Moor View. My mother was born in Exeter, I was born in Truro, my niece was born in Barnstaple and a whole load of relatives were born here in Plymouth. We’ve made good use of maternity services right across both Devon and Cornwall.
And the latest figures reveal that we are far from alone. Since 2001, the number of babies born here in the South West has risen every year and is up one-fifth in total, with an extra 10,000 babies born annually. It’s a part of a baby boom that is happening England-wide.
What is surprising is that despite this continuous and mammoth jump in the number of births, the number of NHS midwives is actually down. At the last count there were the equivalent of 1,803 full-time midwives working in the NHS in the South West. This is lower than at the start of the baby boom, in 2001. It is also lower than in 1997.
The Lib Dems would recruit an extra 6,400 midwives across the whole country. Many would join the NHS workforce here in our region. And this isn’t ‘pie in the sky’ stuff, we’ve already earmarked the money to pay for them.
Now, of course, money doesn’t grow on trees, and public spending is set to tighten dramatically. That is why we have decided to abolish the Child Trust Funds, and divert that money into expanding the midwifery workforce. It is important that parties are honest about how they would pay for any new spending pledge, and that’s why I have spelt that out.
Despite the difficult times that confront us, getting care right for pregnant women and their babies is vitally important. It is a matter of priorities, and this must be a priority service.
Stuart Bonar is Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Plymouth Moor View. Check out his website.
(image: Stuart Bonar Lib Dem PPC for Plymouth Moor View outside Derriford Hospital, Plymouth)
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