The British Government has committed to invest nearly £35m ($44.9m) over the coming three years to ensure that maternity services across England are responsive to women’s experiences for enhancing care quality.
Announced as part of the Spring Budget 2024, the investment will be used to hire additional midwives and expand specialist training for extra healthcare staff.
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As part of this investment, the government will allocate £9m for the implementation of the ‘Reducing Brain Injury’ programme across England’s maternity units.
This initiative provides healthcare workers with the necessary tools and training to minimise avoidable brain injuries during childbirth.
In addition, the investment will bolster training to equip the NHS workforce with the skills required for increasingly safe maternity care.
An extra 6,000 clinical staff will receive training in neonatal resuscitation, and the number of clinical staff undergoing specialist training in obstetric medicine in England will nearly double.
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By GlobalDataThe investment also supports the growth of the maternity and neonatal workforce by funding 160 new midwife positions over three years.
Furthermore, the rollout of Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnerships will enhance the integration of women’s experiences and feedback into care improvements.
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Improving maternity care is a key cornerstone of our Women’s Health Strategy and with this investment, we are delivering on that priority – more midwives, specialist training in obstetric medicine and pushing to improve how women are listened to in our healthcare system.
“£35m is going directly to improving the safety and care in our maternity wards and will move us closer to our goal of making healthcare faster, simpler and fairer for all.”
The new investment builds on the recently announced Women’s Health Strategy priorities for 2024, which focus on improving care for menstrual and gynaecological conditions, expanding women’s health hubs, and supporting vulnerable women, including victims of sexual abuse and violence.
It also supports NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, with an emphasis on preconception and postnatal care.
