Alan Johnson has given a heavy hint that thousands more midwives are to be recruited after a review of the NHS to be published next month.

In his speech to the conference the Health Secretary addressed concerns that maternity services were becoming dangerously overstretched. The Royal College of Midwives believes that the NHS needs 5,000 more midwives to cope with demand over the next five years.

Mr Johnson said: “We have initially planned an extra 1,000 by 2009. If birth rates continue to rise we will need to train more.”

The review – being carried out by Lord Darzi, the Health Minister – is expected to recommend a significant recruitment programme for midwives and specialist nurses, according to a Whitehall. Funds for the recruitment drive will be earmarked in the spending review, also expected next month.

Mr Johnson tried to placate unions angry about staggered pay awards by praising NHS staff and promising to do more to protect them from abuse. He also spelled out details of powers to be given to the new healthcare regulator to improve hospital cleanliness. Announcing a £97 million fund to increase protection for staff, he said that anyone guilty of abusing staff should face the possibility of jail.

The Department of Health later said that £27 million will be spent on 30,000 alarms fitted with satellite-tracking technology for staff working on their own. John Reid, the former Health Secretary, announced the availability of a similar device three years ago but a survey for the Royal College of Nursing in July revealed that only 3 per cent of nurses who could benefit had the alarms.

Mr Johnson set out how Ofcare – which from 2008 will replace bodies such as the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection – will be able to fine, inspect, investigate and intervene where hospitals are failing to meet hygiene standards.

David Cameron has made the future of local hospitals, many of which face closure, a key part of his attack on the Government.

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