TWO out of three people in England believe maternity services should be spared from NHS spending cuts, according to a poll out today.
The survey of more than 1,700 people for the Royal College of Midwives found those in the North East were the biggest supporters of maternity services, with 79% against cuts to spending.
Overall, only 8% of people thought maternity should be included in NHS cuts while 59% thought the current financial crisis would lead to less money being spent on maternity care.
Respondents were told maternity spending has dropped at least once in each region since the start of the current baby boom in 2001.
Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the RCM, said: “This survey indicates that there is real support for increasing midwife numbers and on maintaining funding.
“It is women and their babies who are at the sharp end of the issues in this survey.”
