A poll conducted by Netmums and the Royal College of Midwives reveals, over a third of women in labour are left on their own, leaving them worried. As well, after giving birth, half of these new mothers did not have access to a midwife, while a quarter of them complained about the too few midwife home visits for help with breastfeeding.

The fact that despite government pledges, only 56% of pregnant women are offered home births, campaigners say the poll findings raise serious concerns about NHS staff shortages, with 5,000 more midwives needed.

However, Ann Keen, Minister of Health said maternity services had received an extra £330-million in recent years, adding their latest survey showed 9 out of 10-women were pleased with the ante-natal and post-natal care they received.

Even so, while the leader of the midwives’ union said maternity services in England were making some progress, with the government investing extra money and recruiting staff, she still believed them to be at a critical point.