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Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 March 2009. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Midwives: Manpower

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what mechanism his Department is using to ensure that the 4,000 extra midwives to be provided by 2012 are being provided at a local level in the NHS;
Answer

The number of midwives increased by 624 between September 2006 and September 2007. The following table sets out strategic health authority (SHA) projections for midwives up to 2012.

NHS midwife headcount and projections in England
SHA 2006¹ 2007¹ 2008² 2009³ 2012³
East Midlands 1,703 1,692 1,811 1,792 1,942
East of England 2,326 2,380 2,416 2,439 2,586
London 4,301 4,188 4,612 4,402 4,720
North East 1,272 1,284 1,323 1,323 1,390
North West 3,949 4,030 3,908 4,193 4,437
South Central 1,550 1,787 1,726 1,855 2,329
South East Coast 1,760 1,808 1,865 2,368 2,538
South West 2,370 2,344 2,523 2,556 2,875
West Midlands 2,770 2,750 2,933 2,924 3,063
Yorks and Humber 2,443 2,460 2,455 2,492 2,644
England total 24,444 24,723 25,572 26,344 28,524
¹ Actual data from work force census.
² Estimate of electronic staff records plus bank staff at 30 September 2007. Actual 2008 NHS work force census figures to be published on 25 March 2009.
³ Predictions based on current estimates and work force trends.

The NHS operating framework 2009-10 already provides a strong steer on making demonstrable overall improvements in maternity services, including 4,000 more midwives by 2012, contingent on the birth rate.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
489 c1030W;489 c1032W; 262285
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Staff Midwives
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk