§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many maternity units there are in England and Wales; how many have fewer than(a) 2,500 and (b) 2,000 births a year; how many with approximately 2,000 births a year are midwife only; and what his policy is on the size of midwife only units. [33716]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 5 February 2002]: The Department estimates that there are about 250 maternity units in England.
Information for England about the number of births in each unit and which of these are midwife only is not collected centrally by the relevant Departments.
Statistics on all births in England and Wales is available on the Office of National Statistics webpage at: www.statistics.gov.uk
953WThe National Health Service provides care for women in various sizes of midwife only units. It is for local health authorities, trusts and communities to decide on the local pattern of service provision.