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The Maternity Matters (MM) strategy aims to give all women by 2009 the right to decide whether they give birth at home, in a midwifery unit or in a hospital with care led by doctors and midwives.

Announcing the plans this morning, health secretary Patricia Hewitt said that MM was necessary as "there is nothing more important for any family than bringing a new baby into the world".

"In practice, this will mean that care is designed around the needs of women and their partners from the very beginning of pregnancy through to providing much better and more personal post-natal care."

Commenting on the new strategy, Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "This marks a huge step forwards and gives much needed emphasis on emotional support and empowering parents during one of the most important events in their lives."

Professor Allan Templeton, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said that the plans should "bring back the spotlight to maternity care in this country".

"Although the number of midwives is up and spending is up too, it is also true to point out that both the proportion of the NHS workforce represented by midwives, and the share of the NHS budget being spent on maternity services, have dropped since 1997.

"It is fantastic news therefore that the government is committing itself to such an ambitious plan for maternity services which will, I am sure, help to reverse these trends," Dame Karlene added.

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