Reclaiming Birth Rally:
MARCHING TO WHITEHALL ON MARCH 7th at 1pm
IMPROVED MATERNITY SERVICES FOR UK PARENTS
MORE MIDWIVES, MORE GENUINE CHOICE IN CHILDBIRTH, SAFER AND HAPPIER BIRTHS:
5* MIDWIFERY 4 ALL
Reclaiming Birth is a campaign by IM UK; RCM; ARM; NCT; AIMS and Albany Mums about the standard of maternity services throughout the UK. We want parents-to-be to have the best opportunity to start family life in the optimum way. Our concerns cover a range of issues:
Too many women and their partners are left alone in labour with little support from overstretched midwives. Parents-to-be often don't have access to the services and support they need for the birth of their baby to be a positive event.
This will only change when there are more midwives, greater access to free-standing midwifery units (Birth Centres), or home births, and more midwives carrying their own caseloads and looking after parents-to-be from conception to birth and postnatally. Few parents currently have any of these options.
THE CAMPAIGN?S OBJECTIVES:
More midwives so that every woman is fully supported and not left alone
Supporting Independent Midwives UK in its vision of being commissioned to provide a case loading midwifery service free at the point of use by every PCT in England
Setting up at least one stand-alone birth centre (midwife-led unit) in every local area
Good information on, and the option to choose, home birth, birth in a stand-alone birth centre or birth in an obstetric unit in every area
Setting up at least one case loading midwifery group free at the point of use (like the Albany Midwifery Practice) in every area in the UK.
An inquiry into how the decision to terminate the Albany's contract with King's College Hospital Foundation Trust, London, was taken ? the findings made publicly available (see www.facebook.com/l/e4f7b;www.savethealbany.org.uk/ALBANY/Welcome.html)
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
There are a couple more actions you can take. These are really quick and easy, and should take no more than five minutes. Why not write to your elected representative (AM/MLA/MP/MSP) and ask for their support? Or to your local MSLC to encourage them to support the campaign and start getting action from your local Health Board or Trust?
Write to your MP
Write to your AM/MLA/MSP (Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland)
Write to your MSLC
For more information and to download flyers and a guide to the rally please visit:
www.facebook.com/l/e4f7b;www.independentmidwives.org.uk
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