The 2007 Maternity Services Review assessed health trusts on clinical focus, woman-centred care and efficiency. It found just 11 per cent met requirements for Down's syndrome screening.
Alison Girauld-Saunders, co-director of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, said: "If stretched maternity services are unable to carry out basic tests, it is unlikely expectant parents will receive the right kind of support."
The review found 64 per cent of trusts provide women with a named midwife to support them and raised concerns about staffing levels in some trusts.
A spokesman for the Nursing & Midwifery Council said: "The review shows UK maternity services are world class but there are areas for improvement."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
