The needs of new mums and their new born babies are not being met because of a shortage of midwives and growing organisational pressures, according to a survey carried out by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

The Postnatal care planning report, commissioned by the RCM, which surveyed both mothers and midwives, revealed that over a third (40%) of women were prematurely discharged from hospital after giving birth.

The report also said that new mums are not getting the levels of postnatal care recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and, as a result, continuity of care is suffering and women and their babies are receiving poorer treatment.

More than 3,000 midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers were surveyed as part of the report, of which sixty five percent said that organisational pressures determined the number of postnatal visits allocated to a mother and baby.

Clinical negligence solicitor and qualified midwife, Claire Evans who is based in Thompsons Solicitors’ Cardiff office, said: “The report released by the RCM this week reveals some alarming feedback from both midwives and mothers.

“It is clear from the data that the services being delivered by midwives are buckling beneath the strain of a poorly resourced workforce, which is in need of further funding and additional staff.

“According to the findings of the report many mothers and babies are not receiving the after birth care they require, which has been directly attributed to organisational pressures. It is imperative that the government pays heed to these findings and acts on them to ensure that the care of mother and baby is never compromised by poor resourcing and understaffing.”