If they ask where were you born....?

The Tories released figures showing a worrying increase in births taking place outside proper maternity facilities.

In 2007 there were nearly 3,500 such cases, but in 2008 the figure had risen to nearly 4,000, a large increase.

There were over the two years 2,997 unintended births at home, which may reflect miscalculation by parents, or traffic delays by medical staff or ambulances. A further 63 happened in ambulances and 608 during other journeys to hospital, and 10 in hospital car parks.

These account for roughly half of all cases, and for understandable causes. It is the others which raise concern.
- 117 were in A & E departments, and 4 in other minor injury units.
-115 were in other departments in hospitals
- 3 were born in corridors
- 33 were born in unspecified areas of hospitals. including lifts, toilets or offices.

While the large number born at home or in transit is understandable, if not acceptable, it is the above 168 which do cause concern, plus the 399 which took place in maternity units, but not in labour wards. They were in post-natal and pre-natal wards and reception areas.

These concerns about the suitability are the distress caused to parents, the lack of equipment, and above all the overload they suggest.

The Royal College of Midwives admit that the service is under considerable stretch, and staff are having to work harder and harder. There is, the college claims, a shortage of 5,000 midwives. The NHS, and beyond it the government, must accept responsibility for this situation. The service is underfunded and in many places at breaking point.