David Cameron this week refused to deny breaking a key Conservative pledge on NHS services after the Royal College of Midwives accused him of a U-turn on midwife numbers.
RCM general secretary Cathy Warwick told the union’s annual conference in Manchester that Mr Cameron and Nick Clegg had promised to increase midwife numbers by 3,000, only to scrap the policy this week.
The news emerged after the Royal College of Nursing estimated that nearly 27,000 jobs could be cut across the NHS over the next four years – despite the Government’s promise to protect NHS spending over the same period.
Ms Warwick said: “We are incredibly disappointed. There are still not enough midwives to cope with the birth rate which has risen dramatically over the last few years. There are not enough midwives to cope with the growing complexity of pregnancies, and nowhere near enough midwives to make the policy goals of more choice, individualised care and equitable care a reality.”
Challenged on the change at Prime Minister’s Questions this week, Mr Cameron refused to confirm it, saying: “We do want to see an increase in midwives – the health service is better off with our Government” and suggesting Labour would have cut the NHS budget.
The number of births in England and Wales went up by 19 per cent between 2001 and 2008. The number of midwives rose by just under 9 per cent, from 18,048 to 19,639.
A survey of NHS trusts by the Royal College of Nursing last week found that a total of 26,841 jobs were “at risk” as they seek to reduce wage bills to make £20 billion of efficiency savings, under a target inherited from Labour and endorsed by Chancellor George Osborne.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “The commitment to 3,000 midwives made in opposition was dependent on the birthrate increasing as it has done in the recent past. It was not in the coalition agreement because predictions now suggest the birthrate will be stable over the next few years.”
