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‘Government must pay NHS staff fairly to recruit and retain them say midwives’

By RCM on 25 July 2017 NHS Staff Midwives Pay and Agenda For Change

New figures have revealed today that the average midwifery and nursing role advertised in the NHS is only drawing three applications.

Experimental statistics from NHS Digital show that there were 30,613 advertisements for vacancies for full-time positions published in England in March 2017 - a rise from 26,424 in 2016 and 26,406 in 2015.

Responding to the figures, The Royal College of Midwives (RCMs) Director for Policy, Employment Relations and Communications Jon Skewes said; “There is no incentive for midwives to stay in midwifery or for students to consider joining a profession that’s so badly over stretched in terms of staffing and as a result of public sector pay restraint in the NHS over the past 7 years midwives have seen their pay drop in value by over £6,000 since 2010.

“The RCM has warned for sometime now that more midwives are leaving the profession than ever before, this coupled with the current shortage of 3,500 midwives is putting increasing pressure and strain on maternity services. Midwives are working increasingly harder and frequently working hours past their shift unpaid while their pay is plummeting in value every year so these vacancy figures comes as no surprise.

“Last year the RCM published a survey* that found 80% of midwives who were considering leaving the NHS would be persuaded to stay if they had a fair pay rise. The Government must recognise that NHS staff need a pay rise so they can recruit and retain the necessary numbers of staff to provide the highest level of safe care.”

Visit the Pay and Agenda for Change page for information.

 

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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/.

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