Department of Health
More than 90 NHS trusts will receive money to buy new equipment, including ultrasound machines and mother and baby monitoring equipment, so any problems can be detected and addressed earlier.
This is part of the governments campaign to halve the number of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths and brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth, by 2030.
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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:
This is an important step towards creating a safer NHS 7 days a week. By ensuring midwives and doctors have the right equipment we can further improve the safety and care of thousands of women and their babies during this life-changing moment.
The introduction of new equipment, specialist training and closer working with Royal Colleges to reduce stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths and brain injuries is fundamental to ensuring the NHS remains one of the safest places in the world to give birth.
The government is investing in a new system that can be used consistently across to NHS so staff can review and learn from every stillbirth and neonatal death. More than 1 million has also been invested in training programmes that will give NHS staff the skills and confidence to provide world-leading safe care.
Improving maternity services is part of the governments wider commitment to make sure all patients receive safe, high quality healthcare 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, backed by a 10 billion investment in the NHS.
Applications for funding were considered by the Department of Health and representatives from the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.