One in five women in England say their concerns were ignored during childbirth, survey finds
Almost one in five women feel their concerns were not taken seriously by healthcare professionals during childbirth, according to the “concerning” results of a national survey of maternity experiences.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) survey of almost 17,000 women who gave birth across England in NHS settings this year found that 15% felt they had not been given relevant advice or support when they contacted a midwife at the start of their labour, while 18% said their concerns had not been taken seriously.One in 10 of the survey’s respondents reported they had been left alone during their maternity care at a time that worried them, 7% of which was “during the later stages of labour”.Valerie Amos, who is overseeing a national investigation into maternity care, said women were experiencing “unacceptable” maternity care, including poor communication, a lack of empathy, and in some cases discrimination against women from ethnic minority and working-class backgrounds.Clea Harmer, the chief executive of the baby loss charity Sands, said the report was “alarming and frustrating to read” and signalled the need for urgent action to follow recommendations made to improve maternity care in England.
She said: “What the results do show is that too often pregnant women are not feeling listened to when they had concerns, or not having those concerns taken seriously.We know that listening to parents saves lives.So it is especially concerning that the CQC found that these issues show no improvement since last year.”The survey also found that only 57% of people surveyed had “always” been able to get a member of staff to help them when needed after the birth of their child, while one in 10 said they could not access any help at all.Despite the concerns the survey raised, the results also indicated some improvements in maternity care.
Almost nine in 10 (89%) of survey respondents said they had always been spoken to in a way they could understand, a 1% increase.The same proportion of respondents (89%) said they had been offered mental health support during pregnancy, compared with 83% in 2021.Sign up to Headlines UKGet the day’s headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morningafter newsletter promotionGill Walton, the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said it was “deeply concerning” that nearly one in five women felt they had not been taken seriously when raising concerns during labour and birth.Walton said: “It’s positive to see improvements in several areas – with 89% of women saying they were always spoken to in a way they could understand and 81% given enough time to ask questions during antenatal check-ups.These improvements reflect the dedication of midwives working hard to provide quality care.
“These findings highlight the immense pressure midwives are working under due to chronic workforce shortages.When midwives are stretched too thin it becomes harder to provide the attentive care that allows them to truly listen and respond to concerns, especially when they’re often caring for multiple women simultaneously.”Dr Jyotsna Vohra, the director of research, programmes and impact at the pregnancy charity Tommy’s, said the results of the survey were “yet more evidence that families are being let down.“Just one day after the publication of Baroness Amos’s initial findings [from the National Maternity Investigation], which were deeply concerning, the results of this survey are yet more evidence that families are being let down,” Vohra said.“Pregnancy should be a time when women and birthing people feel safe and cared for.
These results clearly show that too many people are not being heard and left alone at crucial moments”.Duncan Burton, the chief nursing officer for England, said: “It’s clear that too many women are still not receiving the care they need despite the signs of improvement that these results show, and I am determined to ensure every woman and their family is listened to and receives safe and compassionate care.“We have put in place dedicated teams across the country working to improve services, and we are introducing daily performance monitoring of every maternity service to ensure we can quickly intervene if issues arise.
How to make the perfect Dubai chocolate bar - recipe | Felicity Cloake's How to make the perfect …
If you’re asking what on earth chocolate has to do with a city with an average annual temperature of 28C, then you must have been stuck in the desert for the past three years. Because, since its creation in the UAE in 2022, apparently to satisfy chocolatier Sarah Hamouda’s pregnancy cravings for pistachio and pastry, this bar has taken over the world. Though food (among those with the luxury of choice, at least) has never been immune to the absurdities of fashion, the internet has supercharged and globalised the process, so much so that pistachios, which back in January were dubbed “the new pumpkin spice” by this very newspaper, are now everywhere, from Starbucks lattes to Aldi mince pies.The thing is, however, that whatever your thoughts on green, sugary, coffee-adjacent beverages, Hamouda’s Dubai chocolate developed for Fix Dessert Chocolatier has triumphed, because it really does taste as good as it looks: crunchy pastry, sweet chocolate and rich, slightly savoury nut butter are an incredibly satisfying combination, so a big bar of it is guaranteed to impress under the Christmas tree. Experience demands that I suggest you wrap it in a pet-proof box, however – emergency vet bills are no one’s idea of a great present
The ultimate unsung superfood: 17 delicious ways with cabbage – from kimchi to pasta to peanut butter noodles
Over the last 50 years, cabbage consumption in Britain has declined 80%. But it’s versatile, full of vitamins, and perfect on a winter night. Here’s how to make the most of itIt’s not good news: despite a lot of messaging about healthy eating, Britons consume 12% less vegetables per week than they did in 1974, when the government’s Family Food survey began. And while the consumption of some specific vegetables – courgettes, say – has risen over the past 50 years, others have experienced a sharp decline. Among the biggest losers is cabbage
Christmas dinner in a restaurant or kitchen carnage at home?
Christmas dinner? At home or in a restaurant? It’s at this juncture of the year, with Christmas dinner hurtling towards us, that you may well find yourself muttering: “Well, we could always go out!” Who could blame any home cook for wanting to shove this great burden on to someone else’s back, especially since every culinary TV show, magazine article and advertising break since mid-November has hammered home what a colossal faff Christmas dinner actually is. No, it’s not just a slightly posh Sunday roast with a few more guests.Christmas dinner in the UK these days is more like a cross between dinner at Balmoral and 4 July at Mar-a-Lago. The table has to be heaving with holly-embossed crockery, the carrots must be bejewelled in star anise and Himalayan pink pepper, the turkey has to be brined in aromatic salt water and your roasties shaken in polenta and smothered in duck fat. If you’re the designated martyr organising proceedings, field-marshalling everything and cooking this tinsel-strewn palaver, it is common to try instead to divert it all to the local pub, where they’re doing “turkey and all the trimmings” for £79 a head (and including a cracker and a pre-dinner “glass of something sparkly”)
Christmas mixers: Thomasina Miers’ recipes for fire cider and spiced cocktail syrup
Despite being known for shaking a cocktail on Instagram now and again, very little will induce me to last-minute cocktailery if I am entertaining a serious number of guests. However, a good drinks recipe that you can prep in advance is a lovely thing to dazzle your friends with and to gift over Christmas. With or without alcohol, this pair look good and taste delicious, and should help everyone ease into the December festivities.This makes a delicious base to which you can add soda, juice, tonic or any other mixer for a thirst-quenching and delicious alternative to an alcoholic drink in the evening. Prep 15 minInfuse 1 week+ Makes 500ml bottleFor the fire cider2 jalapeños, finely sliced seeds and all1 large thumb of ginger, peeled and finely sliced2 branches fresh rosemary1 cinnamon stick3 heaped tbsp honey2 garlic cloves, peeled1 thumb turmeric, peeled and finely sliced (optional)350ml apple cider vinegarFor the cranberry fizz (serves 1)30ml fire cider 75ml cranberry juice1 wedge of orange Sparkling water, to topMix all the ingredients for the fire cider in a sterilised 500ml jar, then put in the fridge for at least week, and preferably three to extract the most goodness from the ingredients
Jamie Oliver to relaunch Italian restaurant chain in UK six years after collapse
Jamie Oliver is to revive his Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain in the UK, more than six years after the celebrity chef’s brand collapsed.Jamie’s Italian is poised to be relaunched in the spring, starting with a restaurant in London’s Leicester Square.Oliver’s return to the UK restaurant scene is being backed by Brava Hospitality Group – the private equity-backed group that runs the Prezzo chain – which intends to relaunch the brand across the UK.“As a chef, having the chance to return to the high street is incredibly important to me,” he said. “I will drive the menus, make sure the sourcing is right, the staff training, and ensure the look and feel of the restaurant is brought to life in the right way
Maximum protein, minimal carbs: why gym bros are flocking to Australia’s charcoal chicken shops
From El Jannah’s webpage dedicated to ‘health-conscious individuals’ to Habibi Chicken’s ‘Gym Bro’ pack, businesses are catering to the post-leg day crowdGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailPopularised in Australia by Balkan and Lebanese immigrants, charcoal chicken has long been part of our comfort-food canon. But recently, the humble chicken shop has had a renaissance – driven by fresh takes on the classics, the expansion of longstanding chains and a surge of protein-conscious gym goers.In June, charcoal chicken chain El Jannah, which has more than 50 stores, launched a page on its website dedicated to protein and macros – complete with recommendations for the best post-leg day order – a clear nod to the fitness crowd.In Wagga Wagga, Habibi Chicken has a “Gym Bro” pack – a half or quarter chicken, tabbouleh, pita and toum, no chips. Co-owner Mariam Rehman says it’s a top seller, designed to maximise protein and reduce carbs
One in five women in England say their concerns were ignored during childbirth, survey finds
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