The government has announced an investment of almost £35 million to improve maternity safety across England.

They said this will be done by recruiting additional midwives and expanding access to specialist training to thousands of extra healthcare workers.

The investment, which was announced as part of the Spring Budget, will be provided over the next three years to "ensure maternity services listen to and act on women’s experiences to improve care."

Victoria Atkins, health and social care secretary, said the improving maternity care is "a key cornerstone of the Women's Health Strategy." The Strategy is a ten year plan from the government to improve women's health across the country and includes bolstering maternity care, bettering care for menstrual and gynaecological conditions, and improving support for vulnerable women.

She said: "I want every mother to feel safe when giving birth to their baby."

The Reducing Brain Injury programme, a service for healthcare workers to give them tools and training to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth, will be rolled under the new investment.  

An additional 6,000 clinical staff will also be trained in neonatal resuscitation and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) almost double the number of clinical staff receiving specialist training in obstetric medicine in England.  

The DHSC plans to increase the number of midwives by funding 160 new posts over three years to support the growth of the maternity and neonatal workforce. 
  
Chief midwifery officer for England Kate Brintworth said: "We are focused on ensuring that women receive the safest high-quality care before, during and after their pregnancy.

"Our workforce must also have the right skills for improving maternity safety and this investment helps ensure all those working in maternity services in England have the tools and training to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth."