crisis in de kraamzorg: steeds meer bevallingen stilgelegd
Den Haag, woensdag, 8 april 2026.
De Tweede Kamer debatteerde op 2 april over het toenemende tekort aan kraamzorgpersoneel. Door het personeelstekort worden bevallingen in steeds meer ziekenhuizen stilgelegd. Veel nieuwe moeders ontvangen onvoldoende kraamzorg of helemaal niets. De inspectie noemt het een groot risico voor kwetsbare gezinnen. De kwaliteit van de geboortezorg staat onder druk. Gebekte zorgeenheden melden dat zij zonder spoedmaatregelen niet kunnen blijven functioneren. Kraamverzorgenden werken onder hoge druk. De sector roept op tot snelle ingrijping om de zorg te stabiliseren.
parliamentary debate highlights growing crisis in maternity care
On April 2, 2026, the Dutch House of Representatives held an urgent debate on the worsening personnel shortage in maternity care [2]. The discussion was prompted by increasing reports of birth stops in hospitals across the country. Many new mothers receive insufficient postnatal support or none at all due to lack of trained staff [2]. The issue affects regions nationwide but particularly impacts urban centers such as The Hague [2].
inspectie warns of serious risks to vulnerable families
The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) identified staffing shortages as a major risk to maternal and newborn care in late 2025 [2]. Their assessment followed inspections of nine midwifery collaboration networks between 2023 and 2024 [2]. These regional partnerships involve midwives, obstetricians, and maternity caregivers working together to improve care quality [2]. The IGJ concluded that without immediate action, fragile families face significant disadvantages right after childbirth [2].
ministerial response and ongoing stakeholder consultations
Minister Sophie Hermans of Health, Welfare and Sport attended the parliamentary session to address concerns [2]. Her ministry has been actively consulting with frontline professionals through various meetings during early 2026 [3]. The Knowledge Center for Maternity Care (KCKZ) confirmed its participation in these discussions, representing the interests of maternity caregivers [3]. Topics included workplace aggression, unintended pregnancies, and systemic discrimination affecting service delivery [3].
industry voices call for structural reforms and recognition
Representatives from the maternity care sector emphasize the need for sustainable solutions beyond temporary fixes [3]. The KCKZ highlighted recent developments such as the formal adoption of a national quality standard for maternity care [4]. This framework defines what constitutes effective postpartum support and how it should be implemented locally [4]. At the same time, digital transformation projects like BabyConnect aim to streamline data exchange among providers despite technical hurdles [4].
political pressure mounts for concrete policy actions
Mirjam Bikker of the Christian Union formally requested the debate in November 2025 following the IGJ report release [2]. She stressed that timely access to maternity care is essential for family stability and child development [2]. During the plenary meeting, several motions were submitted urging the government to intervene swiftly [5]. Lawmakers recognize that unresolved workforce gaps could further destabilize an already strained healthcare system [2][5].