- Midwives and doctors to help women make personal plan and access cash
- Overhaul to encourage women to have children at home or in smaller units
- Advised in review after Morecambe Bay mother and baby death scandal
- Review, published today, also admits smaller maternity units may close
All pregnant women will be provided with maternity budgets of £3,000 to pay for personal midwives and home births.
They may also put the money towards a private birthing suite – supervised by midwives – with hypnotherapy to control the pain.
Mothers-to-be will not be handed the money directly but midwives and doctors will help them draw up a maternity plan setting out exactly how it will be spent.
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