It has been reported that women located in Wirral would be provided with the opportunity of giving birth to at private clinics. It has been reported that the NHS Wirral has signed a deal with the private firm for a period of three years. Under the agreement, the private firms would be allowed to provide maternity facility to expecting mum and care after birth.

The agreement signed between the NHS and private clinics would also allow expecting mums to give birth at HNS or at private clinics with the help of midwives. The initiative by the medical authorities has been supported by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

The agreement, no doubt, will create job opportunity for the midwives. Jacque Gerrard, Director for England at the RCM was quoted in the Health Service Journal of saying, “We have formed a professional relationship with [the company] to gain recognition for our members, as they will be an alternative employer for midwives”.

At present the RCM has about 20 midwives. To meet the demands of the private firms, RCM would be recruiting more midwives. The supporter of the agreement are of the view that the agreement would ease up the stress of the NHS staff and would also give opportunity to teenagers to provide specialized services.

However, the political leaders are using the agreement to play blame game. The Shadow Public Health Minister, Diane Abbott alleged that the government is trying to privatize the NHS maternity services because of lack of funds. Diane Abbott raised fingers over the promises made by the government at the time of election to recruit 3,000 additional midwives.

Following the agreement signed between private clinics and NHS trust of Wirrral ten babies have already been delivered at private firms. England and Wales government is also being contacted for the same services.