The commitments made in Maternity Matters are due to be met by the end of the year.

HSJ's exclusive survey reveals this week that more than a third of primary care trusts do not have a maternity strategy, only half could provide details of the relevant workforce and more than a third are not earmarking additional government funds for maternity.

PCTs argue it is down to hospital trusts to find the money from the increase in the tariff; trusts counter that PCTs' lack of engagement and funding has slowed expansion in staffing and choice.

Whatever the truth, and it is presumably a bit of both, it is time to stop pointing the finger and sort it out.

Both primary care and acute trusts will be judged if they do not deliver and it won't be pretty.

Maternity does matter, and the NHS still has time to head off disasters - and disastrous headlines.

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