The lives of mothers and babies are being put at risk due to a “severe shortage” of maternity staff, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has warned. This comes as the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Baby Loss and Maternity published a report which describes the impact of shortages on neonatal care as “bleak”.
Some 500 midwives left the NHS in England last year, on top of a long-term shortage of more than 2,000, according to the RCM. Together with UK pregnancy and baby loss charity, Sands, the organisation is calling on the Government to fix the staffing crisis.
Gill Walton, chief executive of the RCM, said “crisis mode is now the norm” for midwives. She said: “A serious, persistent and worsening shortage of midwives and other staff is having an impact on the safety and quality of care for women, babies and families.
