Tory Boys pronouncement to pregnant women “We know what’s good for you”

David Cameron and Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley made a promise yesterday about the Tories offering “real choice to women over childbirth” ( see this BBC report). This has been attacked by amongst others London UNISON Midwifes.

Nora Pearce UNISON Midwifery Convenor at Kingston Hospital, Surrey (see picture)

" This Conservative initiative addresses the issue of the relatively small number of mothers having home births and does little to address the shortages of Midwives being experienced in hospital maternity units across the country, a situation that will be exacerbated by the Conservatives plans to freeze the pay of midwives and other public sector workers".

(I've met Nora and she is a top no nonsense nurse and trade unionist!)

Michael Walker, UNISON Regional Officer "UNISON is also concerned at the threat to scarp Surestart, which is a vital service to new mothers".

While the BBC report quotes RCM General Secretary Cathy Warwick “The Royal College of Midwives said service changes were already underway and that it was hard to see what was different in the Conservative offerings.”

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said the opposition's plans on the NHS were not credible and could not be trusted.

"Cameron promises no NHS cuts - but in the very next breath pledges to cut the things that matter most to patients - their right to see a cancer specialist within two weeks or to be treated within a maximum of 18 weeks."

Labour MP Ann Keen said the proposed changes to maternity services would put at risk vital life-saving changes backed by clinicians and midwives.

Don’t the Tories have any Women shadow ministers to speak about this?

Methinks: pointless Tory focus group and media advisor generated froth and nonsense about a really important issue?