The Liberal Democrats on Wednesday renewed calls for one-to-one midwife care during childbirth, saying every woman in labour should have a dedicated midwife present. The party framed the demand as central to improving safety and the quality of maternity services across the country.
Policy pledge
Sir Ed Davey pledged that, were the Liberal Democrats in government, the party would invest an extra £600 million a year in maternity services. The funding, he said, would be used to help deliver the promise of continuous midwifery support during labour and to bolster broader maternity care provision.
Political context
The announcement places maternity services among the party's health priorities as it outlines its platform ahead of the next general election. The call for one-to-one care joins wider public and political debates about staffing, service capacity and patient safety in maternity units.
Implementation and next steps
The Lib Dems did not set out in the pledge detailed proposals for how the funding would be allocated or how the policy would be implemented within existing health structures. Any change would require negotiation with health authorities and providers, and decisions on recruitment, training and rostering to ensure midwives are available to provide continuous support during labour.
Potential impacts
Supporters of one-to-one midwifery care say it can improve outcomes and the experience of women in labour, while critics may question the cost and feasibility of delivering guaranteed continuous presence in all settings. The Liberal Democrats have positioned the funding commitment as the party's solution to those challenges should it gain the power to implement the plan.