As a result of investigations into high death rates at three maternityunits and information gleaned from patients' complaints, the commissionhas identified some serious problems. These include poor standards ofcleanliness, insufficient advice and support for new parents, as well asconcerns about weak management, inadequate training and poor workingrelationships.
The commission now plans a detailed assessment of maternity units acrossthe country. And with the spotlight now on maternity provision, theGovernment ought to take a look at whether changes are needed toantenatal care.
It ought to review, for example, the role of antenatal visits. In theUK, women are offered a relatively high number of antenatal visits byEuropean standards and attend, on average, 13 visits before a birth.There is evidence to suggest fewer visits would not be detrimental toeither mother or child and resources might be better spent on targetingadditional help to those who need it most.
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