One in four women reported being left alone during labor or shortly after giving birth, while 43 percent of women said they were not given a choice of having their baby at home, as national guidelines suggest.
The Royal College of Midwives estimate that 5,000 extra full-time midwives are needed in England alone to cope with spiraling birth rates. The 4,000 proposed by the government is equivalent to 3,400 full-time posts, as some will work part-time.
Health secretary Alan Johnson said the extra midwives would come from 30 million British Pounds additional funding already announced for maternity services.
Johnson is also set to outline plans to give former midwives a 'golden hello' worth up to 3,000 British Pounds to help them return to work after a break in service, when he visits the Royal Victoria Infirmary Maternity Unit in Newcastle.
The health department and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) will launch the Return to Practice campaign in the summer, with incentives including free training, support with childcare and travel costs plus a grant of up to 1,500 British Pounds.
The RCM says however, that the government should take note of the big number of retiring midwives over the next few years.
