1 year ago
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Fewer women feel they always got the help they needed during labour and birth, according to CQC poll
A health watchdog has sounded the alarm over a “concerning decline” in women’s experiences with maternity services.
Fewer women feel they always got the help they needed during labour and birth, many were disappointed at the amount of time their partners could stay with them after the delivery of their babies, and a significant number reported that they did not feel listened to when they raised concerns.
Women were less likely to report that they were always able to get help during labour and birth – down to 63% in 2022 compared with 72% in 2019.
There was a decline in the proportion who felt they could always get help after birth in hospital – 57% said they were “always” able to get help, down from 62% in 2019.
Some 63% said they received help and advice about their baby’s health and progress – down from 71% in 2017 to 63% in 2022, although this was a slight rise on 2021 (60%).
Just over two-thirds (69%) reported “definitely” having confidence and trust in the staff delivering their antenatal care.
Seven in 10 reported always being given the help they needed when they contacted midwives and health visitors after their babies were born – down from 79% in 2019.
There has also been a downward trend for mothers “always” being treated with kindness and understanding while in hospital after the birth, from 74% to 71% between 2017 and 2022.
Some 90% said their partner or someone else could be involved as much as they wanted during labour or birth – but this is still down from 96% in 2017.
But just 41% of women felt that their partners had been able to be with them as much as they waned after giving birth – prompting a charity to call for a change in policy.
Some 77% said that if they raised a concern during labour and birth, they felt it was taken seriously, down from 81% in 2017.
And 85% said they were always treat with respect and dignity during labour, down from 89% in the 2019 survey.
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