The Ockenden review in 20225 noted that cerebral palsy and brain damage from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy can result from substandard maternity care and that it may take “some years” before a diagnosis is made. Investing to expand I often write about cheap fixes for healthcare, but fixing maternity care will cost money. Expanding recruitment to senior healthcare support worker apprenticeships in maternity care19 would increase support staff and allow midwives to focus on delivering care. Let’s invest in the future of maternity care: its workforce, teamwork, support for women, and NHS estates. Footnotes Scarlett McNally is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, president of the Medical Women’s Federation, and deputy director of the Centre for Perioperative Care.
