(2) what estimate she has made of the full-time equivalent number of (a) fully qualified midwives and (b) maternity care attendants needed in the (i) acute and (ii) community sector to enable the guarantees made in Maternity Matters to be implemented;
(3) what assessment she has made of the (a) overall capacity of maternity services, (b) qualified midwife staffing ratios on acute wards, (c) caseloads of community midwives and (d) availability of safety and monitoring equipment before the publication of Maternity Matters;
(4) what factors were taken into account by her Department in estimating the appropriate caseload of community midwives to enable the guarantees in Maternity Matters to be implemented;
(5) what estimate she has made of the additional (a) staff and (b) facilities which will be needed to implement the Maternity Matters proposals.
The 2007-08 NHS operating framework requires local national health service organisations to undertake a review of their maternity services, identify the gaps and barriers to service development and set out their local strategy for delivery of Maternity Matters. The review needs to include an assessment of their work force capacity.
Some NHS organisations may identify the need to invest in their services and resources to enable them to adapt and enhance services and some may increase their work force capacity. Strategies will need to identify the appropriate staffing ratio, skill mix and caseloads based on the needs of the local population. It is important that these decisions are made locally as they know their local needs best and can ensure that services are developed to meet these needs.
Maternity Matters highlights the need to engage with all stakeholders throughout local implementation and this will be supported by national engagement with representatives from a range of stakeholders, including the Royal College of Midwives.