A midwife who worked at Southmead hospital has left her job after just four years in the profession after having to rely on foodbanks to survive while working on shifts she described as ‘terrifying’. Kate* said that she loved being a midwife, but after deducting childcare and fuel costs, she was earning less than the minimum wage.
Although she said she had an ‘amazing’ team while working as part of North Bristol Trust at Southmead Hospital, she claims she saw many colleagues leave the job due to burnout. She claimed newly qualified midwives were overwhelmed by the level of responsibility they were given due to staffing shortages.
Kate said that at times she found herself looking after 30 women and their babies in postnatal care, with only one other member of staff. Despite these challenges though, Kate said she still loved her job, but was forced to leave the profession this year as she could no longer afford to continue working.
