Royal colleges call for more staff on maternity wards

The four royal colleges that represent UK doctors and nurses involved in childbirth are calling for urgent increases in the number of staff to ensure safe levels of care on maternity wards.

In their report Safer Childbirth the royal colleges for obstetricians and gynaecologists, anaesthetists, midwives, and paediatrics and child health list the minimum standards required for safe childbirth. These include one to one midwifery care for women in established labour and the presence of a consultant obstetrician on the ward at least 40 hours a week.

At the moment, says the report, only 27% of maternity units in England and Wales have enough …