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Tories promise childbirth choices Tories promise childbirth choices
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has promised "real choice" to women in England over childbirth and unveiled plans for new maternity networks.Conservative leader David Cameron has promised "real choice" to women in England over childbirth and unveiled plans for new maternity networks.
He wants a personal, local offering for expectant mum's, not centrally run "bigger and bigger baby factories".He wants a personal, local offering for expectant mum's, not centrally run "bigger and bigger baby factories".
And linking local childbirth-related services will help meet mothers' needs.And linking local childbirth-related services will help meet mothers' needs.
The proposals are part of the Conservatives draft election manifesto plans for the NHS in which they pledge better care without funding cuts.The proposals are part of the Conservatives draft election manifesto plans for the NHS in which they pledge better care without funding cuts.
They also promise to focus NHS spending on the poorest communities by diverting billions of pounds to healthcare in the most deprived areas of the country.They also promise to focus NHS spending on the poorest communities by diverting billions of pounds to healthcare in the most deprived areas of the country.
By introducing new 'maternity networks', we will offer mothers access to the kind of childbirth and other services they want Shadow Health Secretary Andrew LansleyBy introducing new 'maternity networks', we will offer mothers access to the kind of childbirth and other services they want Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley
But Labour said the Conservatives could not explain their spending promises and accused them of having a £34bn gap in their overall spending plans. But the Liberal Democrats said the Conservatives could not explain their spending promises. And Labour accused them of having a £34bn gap in their overall spending plans.
The Royal College of Midwives said changes were already underway and that it was hard to see what was different in the Conservative offerings.
Speaking at a launch in London, Mr Cameron said childbirth was one of life's "most daunting experiences" and that it was best to conduct this in a "non-emergency setting" where possible.Speaking at a launch in London, Mr Cameron said childbirth was one of life's "most daunting experiences" and that it was best to conduct this in a "non-emergency setting" where possible.
Labour's policies had "given us bigger and bigger baby factories where mothers can often feel neglected, with some even being turned away on the doorstep while they are in labour", he added.Labour's policies had "given us bigger and bigger baby factories where mothers can often feel neglected, with some even being turned away on the doorstep while they are in labour", he added.
Mr Cameron said that "parts of Europe have a system that's more flexible and local, with more choices, and they have lower rates of infant mortality".Mr Cameron said that "parts of Europe have a system that's more flexible and local, with more choices, and they have lower rates of infant mortality".
NetworksNetworks
He said that, if his party won the election, it would ensure that all maternity-related services in areas of England would be placed under the control of single, local bodies.He said that, if his party won the election, it would ensure that all maternity-related services in areas of England would be placed under the control of single, local bodies.
Local hospitals, GPs, charities, community groups, maternity consultants will all be linked up so they can share information, expertise and services, he said.Local hospitals, GPs, charities, community groups, maternity consultants will all be linked up so they can share information, expertise and services, he said.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "By introducing new 'maternity networks', we will offer mothers access to the kind of childbirth and other services they want.Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "By introducing new 'maternity networks', we will offer mothers access to the kind of childbirth and other services they want.
"By putting the best local maternity provider in charge of co-ordinating local maternity care we will ensure the highest standards of safety are applied while also giving mothers access to a variety of community-led services.""By putting the best local maternity provider in charge of co-ordinating local maternity care we will ensure the highest standards of safety are applied while also giving mothers access to a variety of community-led services."
He said many mothers with low-risk pregnancies were taking highly medicalised care in hospitals against their wishes.He said many mothers with low-risk pregnancies were taking highly medicalised care in hospitals against their wishes.
This mismatch of need and supply exacerbates the overstretch experiences by many units, which are often turning away mothers in labour, he said.This mismatch of need and supply exacerbates the overstretch experiences by many units, which are often turning away mothers in labour, he said.