Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 8 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 December 2004. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 20 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many wards have been closed over the last year because of midwife shortages. - Inc figures and fact that not collected centrally.

Answer: Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many wards have been closed over the last year because of midwife shortages. [204208] Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Government are increasing the number of midwives working in the national health service. We expect that there would be 2,000 more midwives working in the NHS by the end of 2005 than there were in 2000. In September 2003, there were over 1,300 more NHS midwives than there were in 2000, on course to meet this expectation.

Secondary information