Anne Main: Prime Minister should be truthful about NHS

Further to Anne's question to the Prime Minister on 28th February about the state of the NHS

Further to Anne's question to the Prime Minister on 28th February about the state of the NHS, yesterday (7th March) Anne sought to correct the Prime Minister's statement about the state of midwife training in Britain.

Making a Point of Order at the end of this week's Prime Minister's Questions session, Anne said:

"On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. On 21 February, in reply to a question about antenatal services, the Prime Minister said:"we are also increasing the number of midwives in training."-[ Official Report, 21 February 2007; Vol. 457, c. 260.]

In January 2006, however, we were told by the Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) that the number of students who entered midwifery training during 2004-05 was 2,374. But in October 2006 it was reported that there were 2,220 midwifery training places for 2005-06, which is a fall of 154 training places, and the Council of Deans estimates a further 10 per cent. fall on top of that. What can we do to ensure that the Prime Minister returns to the House to correct the misleading statement that he made in answer to my question?"

Upon leaving the Chamber, Anne said:

"My postbag is filled with examples of where the NHS is suffering cuts and setbacks. It is depressing to go into the House of Commons and hear the Government painting a picture that shows the NHS to be in good health, rosy and improving. This is not the reality, and as we know from the axing of ante-natal classes, our ante-natal services are also suffering cuts.

The Prime Minister sought to give me an assurance that the number of midwives in training was, in fact, increasing, but according to the Government's own figures, and those of the Royal College of Midwives, this statistic is not true. We cannot have the public misled in this way. How are my constituents expected to reconcile the reality on the ground with the fantasy of the chamber?

Sadly, the Prime Minister left the chamber before I had finished my point of order, so I shall be writing to him to ask him to set the record straight.""