Midwifery shortage could get worse, shows survey

By RCM on 28 April 2017 Caring For You campaign Education Midwife Shortage

There are fears that this could have an impact on the future workforce – potentially exacerbating for shortage of midwives.

More than a third (37%) of the midwifery lecturers surveyed from 60-plus universities across the UK, said they want to leave their organisation in the next two years. 

The RCM survey found that almost half of respondents (45%) said they felt stress every day or on most days. 

A worryingly large number (84%) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘I can only get my work done if I work beyond my contracted hours’. 

Cathy Warwick, RCM chief executive, said: ‘Our research shows very clearly that our midwife educators are under enormous pressure. They are coping with excessive demands and feeling under stress trying to meet those demands. This is not sustainable.
 
‘It is absolutely critical for the future of midwifery and maternity services that we invest in our midwifery educator workforce. They are the people training future generations of midwives. 

‘Without them we simply cannot train the right number of students to come into the workforce. This in turn will worsen the midwife shortage and this will have an impact on the safety and quality of care.’

The survey is part of the RCM’s Caring for You campaign, which aims to highlight the importance of health and wellbeing for midwives and MSWs.  

Full details of the survey results can be found by clicking here.