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Lack of trained midwives causes 100 stillbirths a year

Designer baby news story

A LACK OF trained midwives in the NHS is putting Britain's mothers and babies at risk. The Royal College of Midwives has claimed that by 2012, a further 5000 midwives will be needed to provide adequate care for expectant mothers.

A 10-year study by the Perinatal Institute in Birmingham will be presented this week, showing that lack of training and experience amongst doctors and midwives lead to 1,000 stillbirths a year. Reporting for The Telegraph, Rowan Pelling commented that these findings are the result of 'chronic understaffing and financial restrictions' amongst the NHS.

These findings are corroborated by a leaked report that showed claims against the NHS relating to medical negligence in childbirth stand at £4.5 billion, of which £3.3 billion are due to babies developing cerebral palsy after being starved of oxygen during birth. With 70% of oxygen starvation cases being due to understaffing in hospitals, the statistic is clearly one that could be cut with adequate midwife support.

Tuesday 25 September 2007


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