RCM: Long-term strategy needed

The government must cultivate a long-term strategy for reducing pregnancy related health problems, the Royal College of Midwives has said today.

This comes in response to a new government initiative - expected to be introduced in 2009 - which will seek to promote healthy eating in pregnancy by giving expectant mothers a one-off cash grant during their third trimester.

Each woman will receive £200 during week 29 of their pregnancy. It is estimated the scheme will cost between £70 to £80 million per year.

A Royal College of Midwives spokesman welcomed the government focus but warned that pregnancy related health problems could not be solved by short-term initiatives.

He said: "We are seeing a real and worrying widening of the health inequality gap so any move to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and their unborn child is a positive step.

"However, to really tackle health inequality we need a real, long-term and committed focus on public health with a significant increase in resources."

The spokesman insisted that improving the health of women and children would take a sustained commitment and increased investment over the coming decades.