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Midwives 'struggling to cope with birth rate'

11/08/2008

Midwives are struggling to cope with the UK's birth rate, according to a survey conducted by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

Just under a third (31 per cent) of midwives polled said their workload has increased and 38 per cent claimed the quality of care has declined as a result of the baby boom.

The poll also revealed that three quarters of midwives work up to ten extra hours a week, with four in ten of this number receiving no compensation - extra pay or time off - in return.

And over half said they have been verbally abused at work in the past year.

The RCM claims the findings show working as a midwife is more challenging than it was five years ago.

"Midwives' pay is not keeping pace with prices, staff numbers are not keeping pace with the birthrate, and investment is not keeping pace with the demands on the service," said RCM general secretary Dame Karlene Davis.

"We are going to see a haemorrhage in the profession if the conditions midwives work in are not addressed. Give midwives the tools and resources to do their job and they will deliver a service of which this country can be proud."