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8 Sept 2003 : Column 204W—continued
Mary Rose Birthing Centre
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consultations took place with (a) local women and their families, (b) other service users, (c) community representatives and (d) NHS organisations before the proposal to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre was taken; and if he will make a statement; [128307]
- (2) if he will make it his policy to reconsider the proposal to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre at St. Mary's hospital in Portsmouth; and if he will make statement; [128308]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the proposal to close the community midwife-led maternity service unit at St. Mary's Hospital Portsmouth, and transfer the maternity service to Queen Alexandra hospital; what research has been conducted on the risks to expectant mothers; and if he will make a statement; [128323]
(4) what guidance he has given the Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust following the report to the Department of Health Children's Taskforce from the Maternity and Neonatal Workforce Group on the proposal by the Trust to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre; and if he will make a statement; [128324]
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(5) what representations he has received on the proposal to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre in Portsmouth. [128325]
Dr. Ladyman: The future configuration of local maternity services in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire is currently under careful consideration as part of the wider restructuring of local acute services. There are no plans to close the Mary Rose Birthing Centre, but the local national health service is considering the possible relocation of the unit along with the main Consultant-led maternity service at St. Mary's hospital to the new Private Finance Initiative hospital on the Queen Alexandra site. During September and October 2003, the local NHS has a programme of engagement to discuss the proposals with local residents and community representatives.
The Department has received two representations about the future of the unit. I am aware that the hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 August about this issue. The Department has not issued any guidance to NHS trusts following the report from the Maternity and Neonatal Workforce Group to the Children's Taskforce.
Maternity Services
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births in the NHS were delivered by caesarean section in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will give this figure as a proportion of the total number of births delivered in the NHS. [126999]
Dr. Ladyman: The table shows estimated numbers and percentages of deliveries by caesarean section for years 1997–98 to 2001–02. The information is taken from the data published in National Health Service Maternity Statistics, England: 2001–02. The bulletin, number 2003/09, was published on 16 May 2003. A copy has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0309.htm.
| Estimated numbers of Caesarean deliveries | Percentage of deliveries that were by Caesarean | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 119,100 | 22.0 |
| 2000–01 | 118,200 | 21.5 |
| 1999–2000 | 116,500 | 20.6 |
| 1998–99 | 110,300 | 19.1 |
| 1997–98 | 106,500 | 18.2 |
Source:
Department of Health, Statistics Division 3G—Maternity Hospital Episode Statistics
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the Health Committee's report on the provision of maternity services in England. [127001]
Dr. Ladyman: A response to the Health Committee's report into the provision of maternity services will be made shortly.
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Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many maternity units there are in the United Kingdom; and whether they all include specialist facilities for premature babies. [128113]
Dr. Ladyman: Information on the number of maternity units in the United Kingdom is not held centrally. Information about maternity units in England is collected by trusts and put on the hospital episode statistics system. Each trust may be responsible for one or more large hospitals and possibly several maternity units. Some of these units will have specialist facilities for premature babies.
Information on maternity units in Scotland and Wales is available from the devolved administrations. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available since 1997 for maternity units; and what measures have been taken to reduce deaths of newborn babies. [128114]
Dr. Ladyman: Expenditure data on maternity services are collected within National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts in England. Information on funding maternity units is not held centrally. However, the table shows national total expenditure on maternity (including in-patients, out-patient and community services), 1997, 1998 to 2001–02.
| Year | Expenditure on Maternity Services (£) |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 1,270,961,420 |
| 2000–01 | 1,192,362,905 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,153,864,597 |
| 1998–99 | 1,089,179,652 |
| 1997–98 | 1,053,832,887 |
Source:1. Annual Financial returns of NHS Trusts, 1997–98 to 2001–02
2. Annual financial returns of Primary Care Trusts, 2000–01 and 2001–02
The Government have provided additional funding to improve facilities for the care of newborn babies. In 2001–02 and 2002–03 we invested £100 million capital in more than 200 maternity units in England. The money is being used to modernise and refurbish the units and to improve the environment in which care is provided and better to meet the needs of women and their families. All projects are due to be completed this year.
The Government have also provided additional funding in support of those babies who are in need of specialist and intensive care facilities. In 2000 the Government introduced recurrent funding of an additional £5 million to address local difficulties in neonatal intensive care services. An additional £6.5 million was also invested in new and upgraded neonatal intensive care equipment, and an additional £10.5 million for critical care nurse training. A comprehensive review of neonatal intensive care services has been conducted with a view to developing further the strategy for neonatal intensive care across the country, and increased funding has been announced to implement the results. There will be £12 million
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revenue funding available this year, increasing to £20 million from next year, and there will also be £20 million available for capital expenditure this year.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of emergency midwives; and what proposals he has to ensure that enough staff are present to provide emergency midwifery services. [128115]
Mr. Hutton: The Government is committed to increasing the number of midwives working in the National Health Service. Our target is clear: we want to see 2,000 more midwives working in the NHS by the end of 2006 than there were in 2000.
In September 2002 there were 680 more midwives working in the NHS than there were in September 2000. We expect there to be further increases, as a result of an increase in the number of people in training and return to practice initiatives.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the proportion of babies born at home and in hospital for the latest year for which figures available; what midwives pay has been on average in each of the past five years; and whether midwives receive extra payment for providing late night and emergency services. [128116]
Mr. Hutton: Information relating to home and hospital births is collected by the Office of National Statistics. The latest figures available are shown in the table.
| Year | 2001 | 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Births: | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
| In hospital | 546,070 | 97.8 | 547,482 | 97.7 |
| At home | 11,543 | 2.1 | 12.055 | 2.2 |
| Elsewhere(59) | 658 | 0.1 | 795 | 0.1 |
| Totals | 558,271 | 100.0 | 560,332 | 100.0 |
Source:
Office for National Statistics
Note:
(59) Elsewhere is usually either a private dwelling which is not the mother's usual residence, or on the way to hospital
From 1 April 2003, midwifery staff directly employed in the National Health Service on national terms and conditions received an above inflation pay increase of 3.225 per cent. Pay has increased across the board for all midwives employed on national terms and conditions by at least 30 per cent in cash terms since 1997.
All midwives and nurses directly employed in the NHS on national terms and conditions are currently paid and graded in accordance with a nationally agreed clinical grading structure which is shared with nurses. Newly qualified midwives enter the clinical grading structure at grade E.
The estimated average earnings of nurses and midwives at grades E to I since 1998 is shown in the table. Average earnings for midwives cannot be identified separately.
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| Year | Estimated average earnings £ |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 21,100 |
| 1999 | 22,600 |
| 2000 | 23,900 |
| 2001 | 24,900 |
| 2002 | 26,000 |
Source:
Department of Health's staff earnings surveys 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
Notes:
1. The estimate for 2001 is based on the 2000 earnings survey projected forward in line with the April 2001 pay settlement.
2. Figures include allowances and overtime.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100.
Currently, all midwives directly employed in the NHS on national terms and conditions receive pay enhancements where their working patterns fall outside of normal hours. This includes overtime, special duty payments for work performed late at night and allowances for any emergency duty they are called to do. Full details of the rates of pay and relevant allowances for midwives employed on national terms and conditions are contained in the "Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council Conditions of Service and Rates of Pay." A copy has been placed in the Library.
The information in this answer relates only to England. Information relating to home and hospital births and the pay and terms and conditions for midwives in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the devolved administrations. Whilst the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.
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