Midwife ‘Exodus’ – 57% say they’ll leave the NHS next year

Midwives are being driven out of the NHS over fears they can’t deliver safe care to women, according to a survey published by the Royal College of Midwives.

The findings show that burnout among midwives and all maternity staff is higher than ever, adding to a pre-existing shortage of 2,000 midwives in England alone, due to leave and sickness absences.

The report showed that almost all (92%) of midwives and maternity support workers felt their work was not valued by the current government, with 57% of midwives saying they’ll leave the NHS within the next year.

This ‘exodus’, as The RCM states, is ‘alarming,’ however, 82% of midwives still find appreciation amongst the women and families that they care for.

The shortage of midwives, combined with burnout and underappreciation, has led to a lack of home birth services being allowed to go ahead, The Observer reports.

This lack of normal service is a result of midwives feeling underappreciated and understaffed, causing chronic burnout and midwives to leave the NHS, with some trusts saying that they cannot guarantee a midwife to be sent for a home appointment when there is a high demand elsewhere.

Midwives across Britain have been staging protests to call on the government to address the current cases of chronic burnout and stress seen in midwives around the country.

The RCM’s General Secretary and Chief Executive, Gill Walton said about the findings: ‘Not a day goes by that we don’t hear of a maternity service having to close temporarily, suspend services or divert women to other maternity units just because there simply aren’t enough midwives. This can’t continue because we know it compromises safety and means women don’t always get the safe positive pregnancy and birth experience that they should.

‘It’s also having a shocking impact on maternity staff themselves. A shortage of midwives has undoubtedly worsened rates of physical and mental burnout among our members. Morale among staff is low and has been worsened by the recent pay award in England.’