The Information Centre in England has adopted a measure for normal labour and birth, called ‘normal delivery’:

“without induction, without the use of instruments (or episiotomy), not by caesarean section and without general, spinal or epidural anaesthetic before or during delivery.”

As health systems are separate for each of the four countries of the United Kingdom, health communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will need to consider whether this works for them. However, the document is intended for use by:

• managers, commissioners and providers of maternity care,
• teachers and students in midwifery, medical and public health education, and
• maternity services user representatives.

Modernising Maternity Care

In 2002, the MCWP produced a practical toolkit for to assist PCTs in commissioning maternity care.  In 2006, a second edition was published following the National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. 

Modernising Maternity Care: A commissioning toolkit for England guides primary care trusts, practice-based commissioners and local authority children’s trusts in commissioning maternity services and providing support for parents during the transition to parenthood. 

• High quality accessible services, as set out in the NSF, can make a significant contribution to maternal and infant health and to the government’s broader health targets.
• Maternity services are also important to the public and should be high on the commissioning agenda. 
• ‘Payment by results’ and new commissioning arrangements must be used to support services that improve health outcomes and well-being, and enable women to make choices. 

Case studies throughout the toolkit illustrate innovative ways of improving access, quality and choice and making good use of the maternity services workforce.