NHS antenatal classes have been cut or suspended in at least 10 areas in England and Wales, according to the NCT.

These are Romsey in Hampshire; Worcestershire; Newham in London; Watford; Gwent in south Wales; south-west Kent; Nottinghamshire; Gloucestershire; Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire; and Wiltshire.

The NCT said it also understood that postnatal home visits have been stopped or are facing cuts in Wiltshire and in east and north Hertfordshire, which would mean new mothers have to travel to a clinic in order to receive after-birth care.

An NCT spokeswoman said: “These cuts in maternity services may reflect a more widespread pattern. The NCT is concerned that these short-term measures to ease financial deficits are having a negative effect on new parents and parents-to-be, preventing them from getting the information and support they need at this important stage in their lives.”

From:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2043159,00.html

Health Direct points out that while the number of births rose from 563,744 in 2001 to 613,029 last year, the number of midwives dropped. In 2005 there were 24,808 midwives, 36 fewer than the previous year.

Midwife cuts
— Trusts are cutting budgets for midwifery training, in some cases by 75 per cent or completely
— Many midwifery units now depend on charitable donations to fund training
— Two thirds of midwifery managers say that their department is understaffed
— Thirty-eight per cent say that they have suffered budget cuts
— Twenty-seven per cent say that their Primary Care Trusts froze recruitment in 2005-06. A fifth say the freeze has not been lifted
— There were 24,808 midwives in NHS England, in 2005
— Since 2001, the annual number of births has risen by 49,285 to 613,029

On Jan 10, 2007 Health Direct posted that Maternity cash is cut amid boom in birthrate, say midwives as the NHS is responding to a boom in the birthrate by cutting spending on maternity services, the Royal College of Midwives said after a survey of more than 100 heads of midwifery in hospital trusts across Britain.

It found that two thirds of maternity units were understaffed and most were trying to save money by employing fewer qualified midwives and taking on maternity support workers instead.

Louise Silverton, the college’s deputy general secretary, said: “This is terrible news for a labour government that in its election manifesto pledged every woman would have a named individual midwife to care for her by 2009. The midwifery shortage is getting worse rather than better at a time when we are experiencing a significant increase in the number of births.”

The survey produced a “depressing picture” of cuts, job freezes, shortages and financial crises.