Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has highlighted alarming statistics regarding maternity care in England, revealing record levels of serious childbirth injuries. He pledged £600 million annually to improve maternity services, emphasizing the need for more senior midwives and consultants to enhance safety and care for mothers and babies.
The call for reform comes as the government prepares to release a new national maternity and neonatal action plan. The Liberal Democrats argue that current spending on negligence compensation should instead be redirected towards preventative measures in maternity care.