Friday, 17th February 2012
Commenting on Ed Miliband’s remarks today on the NHS during a hospital visit in Bolton, Louise Silverton, deputy general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: “The Royal College of Midwives remains opposed to the Government’s Health Bill and believes the best thing for the NHS, for the people who use it and for the Government would be for the Bill to be dropped, with immediate effect. If it goes ahead, there is a very real danger that NHS will simply become a franchise with services being provided by a plethora of private companies with an eye on the bottom line and their shareholders.
“Ed Miliband rightly points out the Prime Minister’s failure to honour his pre-election pledge to recruit 3000 more midwives as the birthrate reaches its highest level for over forty years. So, I repeat our call for him to do the decent thing, honour his promise, and give England’s seriously under-staffed maternity services the people and resources needed.”
For more information contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456, pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.
The RCM’s e-petition for 5,000 more midwives
The Royal College of Midwives is campaigning for 5,000 more midwives for the NHS in England, and is encouraging people to sign an e-petition calling for this that has been lodged by RCM General Secretary Prof Cathy Warwick at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/13716
It is already one of the most popular e-petitions on the Government’s system, and if it tops 100,000 signatures it will be eligible for a full debate in the House of Commons.
Notes to editors
The Royal College of Midwives is the voice of midwifery. We are the UK’s only trade union and professional organisation led by midwives for midwives. The vast majority of the midwifery profession are our members. The RCM promotes midwifery, quality maternity services and professional standards. We support and represent our members individually and collectively in all four UK countries. We influence on behalf of our members and for the interests of the women and families for which they care. For more information visit the RCM website at www.rcm.org.uk.
