Croft WI (From Warrington Guardian)

Croft WI

2:01pm Thursday 17th May 2012 in WI and Clubs

Croft WI May meeting by Pat Hewitt THE meeting commenced with the serious business of members voting on the NFWI resolution (presented by Vicki Gaskell) calling on the Government to increase investment in the training, employment and retention of midwives in England and Wales to ensure services are adequately resourced and are able to deliver a high standard of care. The chronic shortage of NHS midwives is due to a number of factors, including an ageing workforce – 40% will reach retirement within 10 years, a quarter of midwives are over 50-years-old, rising birth rates, increases in birth complications resulting from pregnancies in older women, overweight mothers, women with serious medical conditions conceiving and multiple births due to assisted conception. All these issues can mean fragmented and rushed maternity care and it is hoped that WI support will highlight this problem and put pressure on authorities to continue to allocate funding to employ more midwives and to maintain current training levels. The motion was carried unanimously.

After dealing with business issues, the atmosphere changed to party mode when members (the majority dressed in red, white and blue) enjoyed their own indoor jubilee street party. The hall was bedecked in bunting and Union Jacks, tables were set out in jubilee style and the ladies enjoyed ‘street party’ refreshments. A rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory and the National Anthem closed the meeting on a very patriotic note.

Diary Dates: May 29, Reading Group (the following meeting with be 3rd July); July 7, Croft Carnival; August 1, Visit to Cheese Factory; October 24, Theatre Visit ‘The Mousetrap’, Opera House, Manchester; November 6, Tour of Media City, Salford.

The next meeting will be on June 20 – competition a flower arrangement in a teacup.

Tel: 01925 764555 for more information.