Midwives are quitting the NHS over ‘safety concerns, staffing shortages and bullying’
Conditions have been so stretched some midwives are left caring for 15 mothers and babies at once
A LACK of adequate staffing, long hours and concerns over the safety of their patients is driving midwives to leave the NHS, experts today warned.
Conditions have become so overstretched that some of the medical professionals have been forced to care for around 15 mothers and babies at once.
Research reviewed the lives of 2,700 midwives, finding that some were forced to work in “dangerous” conditions.
Worryingly, some of the hospital workers suffer gruelling 12-hour shifts with no break, increasing the likelihood of them making “tragic” mistakes.
A midwife who left after 40 years claimed "stress of under-staffing and the ever-increasing workload" had sparked extreme exhaustion.
I have seen midwifery colleagues destroyed by management
Another agreed: "I was often working 12.5 hours with no breaks.
"My unit was struggling with employing enough midwives - we had a shortage of 30 full-time midwives in the unit.
“I was not able to deliver the care I wanted as decisions were often made about women's birth without her full involvement.”
The survey showed that midwives had reported their concerns, but were often ignored and sometimes bullied from senior staff.
Some claimed that the worked under fear, with one claiming: "I have seen midwifery colleagues destroyed by management if something goes wrong and yet they had worked 12-hour shifts without breaks and no-one will accept that the system has caused the failure."
Others claimed that they were dismissed after having children for not being able to work flexible enough hours.
Participants of the poll consisted of 31 per cent of midwives who had left the profession, with a further 69 per cent who were considering leaving over the next two years.
The research for the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), showed that 52 per cent weren’t satisfied with the standard of care they were able to give, while 48 per cent struggled to cope with the work load.
Speaking about her experiences, one midwife admitted that she felt a strain "trying to provide good as well as safe midwifery care despite ridiculously low staffing levels and having to complete endless paperwork just to prove I was there".
I am concerned that if this continues that I might make a tragic mistake
Another midwife opened up about her experiences, claiming she was planning on leaving in the next 12 to 18 months.
They said: "I am tired and worn out and am concerned that if this continues that I might make a tragic mistake."
In one-third of cases, midwives didn’t find the level of support from their managers satisfactory, while 32 per cent worried about working conditions.
Many considered leaving the profession, with only 18 per cent claiming they’d consider returning.
Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, said the findings were "saddening, dispiriting and worrying".
She explained: "Maternity services are performing as well as they are on the backs of the selfless dedication of midwives and other maternity staff, and their capacity to go that extra mile for mothers and babies, day after day.
"However, this shows that many cannot fight that battle any longer.
She added: "Enormous demands are being made on midwives and the services they work for, yet investment in these services from the Government remains inadequate to provide the quality of care that women deserve."
The RCM has repeatedly called for more midwives, saying there is a shortage of 3,500 across the NHS.