Cuts to Antenatal Classes will cause lasting Damage

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Mar 2007

The reduction or cutting of antenatal services to help ease the NHS financial crisis was today condemned by the Liberal Democrats.

The National Childbirth Trust has identified at least 10 areas in England and Wales where NHS antenatal classes have been cut or "temporarily suspended", including Romsey, Hampshire.

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson and MP for Romsey, Sandra Gidley said:

"Antenatal classes help women prepare for childbirth and knowing what to expect can help make the experience a more comfortable and less medical one.

"When a woman is pregnant she wants to concentrate on her own health and that of the baby, having to worry about local classes being shut down just adds extra stress.

"The people losing out are those who are unable to afford private classes who will now be deprived of an extremely valuable service.

"This is not just about a shortage of midwives because organisations such as the National Childbirth Trust could provide the classes. This is yet another example of NHS cuts causing lasting damage, just to balance the books in the short-term."

ENDS