The UK is facing an ‘exodus’ of midwives, with a survey showing more than half are considering leaving the NHS.
Among midwives who have left their job, or are planning to do so, most said it was because they were not able to give women the level of care they would like.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said staff were at ‘breaking point’, with high levels of burnout in a staffing crisis made worse by higher sickness rates during the pandemic.
The RCM surveyed 1,588 midwives and maternity support workers, and found 57 per cent were considering leaving.
A survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) found more than half of their staff are considering leaving the NHS (stock photo)
College chief executive Gill Walton said: ‘Every midwife and maternity support worker goes to work to provide safe, quality care.
‘That so many feel that understaffing means they are unable to do so is deeply worrying. What these numbers suggest is a midwife exodus, which will leave already struggling services on their knees.’
The survey found that 67 per cent of midwives and maternity care workers who had left their profession or planned to do so were unhappy with the quality of care they were able to deliver.
Some 84 per cent were not happy with staffing levels.
Mrs Walton said: ‘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 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.’
An NHS spokesman said: ‘The NHS has invested £95.6 million in maternity services this year, providing midwifery teams with funding for 1,200 new roles, more training and leadership programmes, and enhanced pastoral, learning and career development support for midwives in every trust.’
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