Health chiefs questioned over 'missing' £330million maternity care funding

HEALTH bosses are facing a government inquiry over "missing" maternity care cash, it emerged today.

Earlier this year ministers awarded trusts an extra £330million to improve poor standards for mothers and newborn babies across Britain.

The move follows concerns about substandard wards, a shortage of midwives and lack of choice for mothers wishing to give birth at home. Maternity staff complain the money has not been invested in improving services.

Now the NHS has brought in its finance chief to head an audit into exactly where the cash has gone.

The Evening Standard has learned that finance director David Flory has written to all chief executives demanding details of how they have invested the money. He is expected to report back to ministers by mid-November.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced the extra funding in January this year, saying it was to boost services for expectant mothers. This included one-to-one care from a midwife as well as access to a home birth.

The cash was intended to eradicate the postcode lottery many women face when giving birth. But leading midwives say it has failed to reach maternity units, and fear trusts have spent it on other services because it was not properly ringfenced.

Health minister Ann Keen, in charge of maternity services, said there was "no excuse" for health trusts refusing to disclose details of where the funds had gone.

She said: "They have to be transparent. It really is down to individual leaders because the money has been allocated by us. We will find out how the money is being used. This is a very strong reminder about their leadership if they have not [used the cash for maternity care]."

Pat Gould, Royal College of Midwives team manager for London, said she welcomed the investigation.

"The Government keeps saying this money is going to improve maternity services so it's vital that this is what it's used for." Former nurse Mrs Keen admitted that modernisation of maternity units has been "long overdue".

She said: "Environment is important. It has to be as natural as possible as well as safe. There's hard evidence that environment has a huge impact on pain control. Women should decide early and make a positive birth choice. My expectation is that there has to be safety, quality and as much personal choice that the circumstances can allow."