Maternal Death Rate Alarm
December 3rd 2007
Rising maternal deaths rates and slipping care standards are set to be revealed in a "damning" report this week, it was reported yesterday. 
Nearly 300 women died in childbirth between 2003 and 2005 - a doubling of the rate of death in the last 20 years, the report is expected to say.
According to the Independent on Sunday, the report will highlight poor resuscitation skills in "an unacceptably high number of cases" and "inappropriate delegation" to junior staff.
It will also cite instances of professionals who fail to identify and manage medical conditions or emergencies outside their immediate area of expertise.
Growing obesity rates and numbers of migrant mothers will also be highlighted as causes of increasing death rates in the report of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health.
It says there are growing rates of heart disease in young women linked to poor diet, smoking, alcohol and obesity. The maternal mortality rate is now 14 per 100,000, the report says.
Professional organisations blamed staff shortages for some of the problems.
Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told the paper: "We are pressing the Government to increase the number of consultant obstetricians in busy units so that we can provide 24-hour cover.
"If there is a consultant present, they are better able to deal with emergencies and prevent disasters."
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