The level of public expenditure

In the last decade the NHS has enjoyed unprecedented increases in funding. This has largely supported the increase in maternity staffing levels (the number of midwives employed in the NHS in England has increased by 17 per cent since 2001).

While for the immediate future the health service will continue to receive an above-inflation increase in allocation, it is also required to deliver £20 billion of efficiency savings, meet increases in demand for services and improve the quality of outcomes.

Demand for services may continue to increase in the future but it is very likely that funding will remain constrained. The need to improve efficiency might also result in more midwifery-led units and home births for low-risk pregnancies, and result in increased deployment of maternity support workers. There may be other productivity gains. Resources could limit investments in technology for maternity staff.

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.