We've had a great response from readers to the Observer Better Birth Campaign, and it's thrown up a lot of issues.
The main one seems to be the problems facing midwives, both in their ability to change the services but also because of the staff shortages, and as I see it, this is the most difficult area to tackle. The government says there is lots of money available for extra staff, but where are they? Many have left because they are disillusioned about their loss of power, increasing paperwork etc...
What is also coming across to me as I talk to women is that there are huge regional variations in the quality of childbirth, and London seems to be having particular problems as usual. Maybe it's because the number of births is going up in the capital, but the number of beds hasn't increased to meet demand.
The campaign will run this weekend and next weekend, and we've got lots more to say about what needs to be done. Some of the letters we've received will be running in the newspaper on Sunday, but please also keep giving us feedback, positive or otherwise on the blog.
