A National Service Framework on maternity services is promised. Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust said maternity units should be made less clinical and more welcoming and comfortable for women in labour. But she said more midwives was the key to improving services. Professor Robert Shaw, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists would benefit obstetricians, midwives and patients. At their conference this week, midwives are set to discuss the possibility of taking industrial action to protest at staff shortages.
Staff are leaving because of low morale caused by the pressures of the job, say midwives.
In his speech, Mr Milburn said midwifery needed to be a more attractive career. He said those who wanted to return to work in the NHS would have to take a refresher course to hone their skills, but promised a 1,500 one-off payment to help fund their training. Earlier this week, health minister Yvette Cooper announced screening for cystic fibrosis and Down's syndrome was to be made available for all new mothers and pregnant women. On Tuesday, Trade Secretary Stephen Byers announced a streamlining of maternity leave rules. allowing new mothers to take up to three months' unpaid maternity leave, which means they could have up to one year off work. There is to be a simplified system for maternity pay and leave to help employees and employers, and a new website will provide information for working mothers.