Midwives challenge Cameron's vision of NHS Modernisation & Broken Pledges for Maternity Care

RCM The Royal College of Midwives released their statement on proposed vision of the Maternity Care in UK.

For embargoed release, 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, 7th June 2011

RCM General Secretary Cathy Warwick, who attended David Cameron’s speech on the modernisation of the NHS and an update on the progress of the ‘Listening Exercise’ today at 1:45 p.m. at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH;, said: “We are concerned that you can’t  change a massive organisation like the NHS without listening to the staff and the public. David Cameron has not honoured his pre-election pledge to recruit 3,000 more midwives, so how can we trust him not to break his promise on these pledges?”

“Change has to be gradual and consensual and involve the public and stakeholders and has got to improve the service.  This bill could be a Trojan horse for privatisation and competition in the NHS. The bill must be altered and the ‘duty to promote competition’ must be changed. We want it to be a cheerleader and crusader for peoples’ health. A duty for the NHS to collaborate on patients’ health is what would lead to higher quality.”
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 For more information contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456, or Manuela Fernandes at the press conference on 0770 332 1661 pressofficer@rcm.org.uk. 

Notes to editorsThe Royal College of Midwives is the voice of midwifery. We are the UK’s only trade union and professional organisation led by midwives for midwives. The vast majority of the midwifery profession are our members. The RCM promotes midwifery, quality maternity services and professional standards. We support and represent our members individually and collectively in all four UK countries.  We influence on behalf of our members and for the interests of the women and families for which they care.  For more information visit the RCM website at www.rcm.org.uk.