‘More midwives and training places needed to ensure Welsh maternity services are future proofed says RCM’
By RCM on 16 January 2017 NCT - National Childbirth Trust Report Women Midwives Pregnancy Women's Institute
RCM comments on the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) latest maternity report: Support Overdue: Women’s experience of maternity services*.
‘The Welsh Government must prioritise maternity staff planning in order to ensure student midwife numbers continue to rise, so that the health service is Wales is able to adequately replace midwives who retire’.
That’s according to a new report published today (Tuesday January 17th) by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) entitled, Support Overdue: Women’s experience of maternity services*.
Highlighted also where ‘dangerously low staffing levels’ meaning that half of all women (50 percent) experienced at least one red flag event during pregnancy and according to The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), “red flag events” are signs that there may not be enough midwives available to give women and babies the care they need.
On delivering continuity of care the report revealed that over 80 per cent of women (88 %) had never before met any of the midwives who took care of during labour or birth.
Commenting, The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Director for Wales, Helen Rogers says; “This report provides a very valuable insight on women’s experiences of our maternity services and for that reason alone it’s vital the Welsh Government pay attention and more importantly take action now to avoid a midwife shortage in Wales.
“Student midwife numbers have remained static since 2014. This is despite the fact that this year Health Boards have employed all newly qualified midwives needing jobs and there are still vacancies. Added to these maternity services are also seeing a rise in women with more complex needs, who will often need more support and care.
“In Wales just as in other parts of the UK we are also struggling with providing continuity of care and carer which is extremely disappointing in 2017. There is a wealth of clinical evidence regarding the benefits continuity of carer which we know improves women’s satisfaction with their maternity care as well as ensuring better outcomes for both mother and baby. It’s vital the Government listens to women’s needs and incorporates continuity of care and carer models into its overall maternity strategy.”
That said maternity services need to be well staffed if continuity of carer is to become a reality. In Wales we must now begin to future proof our maternity services to avoid a chronic midwife shortage like the one that currently exists in England. We owe this to women and their families and as midwives we want to deliver the highest standard of care to women in Wales, but this can only be done with enough midwives.
The RCM is calling on the Government to take action now to future proof Welsh maternity services."
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Notes to editors
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.