09.02.11
Midwife training places fall despite pre-election pledge
The fall in the number of training places for midwives is “extremely worrying”, according to midwifery’s Royal College.
The figures published today are “yet another blow for maternity services”, according to Cathy Warwick, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives.
She added: “They are doubly disappointing because we have only recently been assured by senior members of the Government that midwifery training places would not drop. This comes on the back of the Government’s U-turn on their promise to provide more midwives. We believe 4,700 more midwives are needed in England to provide a safe and high quality service for women.”
The figures were published in Nursing Standard, which said England is set for a 3.6% fall in midwife training places, from 2,355 to 2,271. Only South Central and South East Coast strategic health authorities are increasing the numbers of places, while North West and London are planning a freeze. The other six SHAs are cutting the number of places available, with West Midlands seeing the biggest drop according to provisional figures, from 294 to 245 (-16.6%).
Scotland will almost halve its training places from 184 to 100 in the 2011/12 academic year. Figures for Wales were not available.
Warwick said: “The fact the Department of Health says midwifery numbers are at record levels fails to address some key issues. Firstly, they are at record levels because of the policies and investment by the previous government. Secondly, they obscure the fact that midwife numbers were climbing from a very low base and, despite this increase they have trailed a long way behind birth rates. There is also increasing pressure on services because births are becoming more complex, demanding more of midwives’ time.
“Now we have a situation where the numbers of midwives coming in will be falling, along with a big retirement bulge among midwives on the way in the next five to ten years. I will be seeking to discuss this issue with the Government as a matter of urgency.”
Health minister Anne Milton said in Parliament earlier this month: “The planned number of midwives in training in 2010-11 is 2,493 – a record level. We expect there will be a sustained increase in the number of new midwives available to the service over the next few years. However, it is for local healthcare providers to decide how best to organise their work force to achieve better outcomes and value for money. Local managers and employers, while required to conform to national standards, must be free to manage their own maternity teams to meet the needs of the communities they serve.”
David Cameron had earlier pledged to increase midwife numbers, and Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young, said in November: “The planned number of trainees next year will be higher than the number this year.”
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