In July 2008 the Healthcare Commission published a second report into all NHS maternity units in England. The report says that most women have a generally favourable view of services but identifies aspects of care that are less good, with concerns about antenatal and postnatal services, as well as in hospitals.

Responding to the Healthcare Commission's benchmarking report in January, the NHS Confederation said the benchmarking study allowed NHS organisations to consider performance and ways of improving care. But we were clear that three areas needed addressing: choice, staffing levels, and the reasons why clinicians are not following guidance, and that managers and professionals need to work through the barriers and blocks to ensure mothers are given the service they need.

NHS Employers will continue to encourage employers to make best use of the maternity support worker as a way of freeing up midwife time to spend with patients. A summit meeting on 14 October 2008, in partnership with the Royal College of Midwives and the Department of Health, will address the key issues in the report such as skill mix, clinical leadership and supervision, commissioning and planning the maternity workforce.