Reclaiming Birth - The March

It's probably difficult for most of us who have not experienced the midwifery care which was available to those serviced by the Albany Midwifery Practice in Peckham, London, to understand what all the fuss was about this weekend. A March to Reclaim Birth? What was all that about then?

The families who did experience this care feel extremely upset that the midwives' contract with Kings' has been terminated leaving them less choice in how their babies will be born.

There are many sources of information on the internet - links below - so I won't repeat them here. But in the meantime here is a message from the CEO of NCT, Belinda Phipps, who took part in the March this weekend.

Well, what a wonderful day we had yesterday! The sun shone and the marchers were in great voice!

As part of the Reclaiming Birth campaign that the NCT works on with AIMS, IM UK, ARM, RCM, Albany Midwives and Albany Mums, we marched yesterday from Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park in Lambeth to Whitehall, where we staged a rally outside the Department of Health building. We marched behind a specially branded bus, from the top of which were
delivered speeches at the end. Speeches were made by Professor Wendy Savage, Beverley Beech, Duncan Fisher, John Skuse, Emma Beamish, Becky Reed, Annie Francis, Gail Werkmeister and me.

It was a brilliant day for all concerned, and we're really proud to have been involved. But, the job's not done yet. We still don't have enough midwives, and we still don't have continuity of care and one-to-on during labour. To make this happen, we need steps to be taken, such as
contracting Independent Midwives into the NHS. And you can help make this happen!

To read more about the Reclaiming Birth campaign, and to take action to bring it to the attention of decision-makers throughout the UK, visit the NCT's Reclaiming Birth page at www.nct.org.uk/active and take the very quick and easy actions there. Tell your AM/MLA/MP/MSP to get behind the campaign, and encourage your local MSLC to demand change from your local PCT.

Hope to see you all at the next march!

Belinda

Save the Albany

Albany Midwives


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