The Royal College of Midwives Cymru has raised serious concerns after newly qualified midwives in Wales were advised of a delay to midwifery streamlining, creating uncertainty over job availability for graduates this summer.
The development follows communication from Health Education and Improvement Wales, informing healthcare students that there will not be enough roles for all newly qualified practitioners after graduation in 2026.
RCM Cymru said the situation exposes a deepening disconnect between workforce training and employment opportunities, at a time when maternity services across Wales continue to face staffing pressures.
RCM Cymru warned that delays in opening midwifery streamlining could result in fewer vacancies for newly qualified midwives, limiting opportunities for graduates to secure substantive roles within NHS Wales. The organisation said this raises serious questions about long-term workforce planning, particularly given ongoing shortages in maternity services.
In its response to the Maternity and Neonatal Assessment: Pathways to Safer Beginnings in Wales, RCM Cymru called for urgent action from the Welsh Government, including:
- Dedicated and sustainable funding
- Full implementation of the report’s recommendations
- Immediate steps to stabilise the maternity workforce
The RCM warned that without action, staffing pressures will continue to affect the safety and quality of care for women, babies and families.
RCM Cymru is urging the Welsh Government and NHS Wales Health Boards to urgently progress workforce planning and assurance measures.
This includes completing Birthrate Plus assessments, a recognised workforce planning tool designed to ensure maternity services are safely staffed based on local demand.
The organisation said these actions are essential both to protect patient safety and to retain newly qualified midwives within the NHS, rather than forcing them to seek work elsewhere or leave the profession altogether.
RCM Cymru also expressed concern that financial pressures and recruitment freezes could have long‑term consequences for the profession.
The organisation warned that continued uncertainty and lack of available posts risks:
- Driving newly qualified midwives out of NHS Wales
- Discouraging graduates from remaining in the profession
- Exacerbating existing workforce shortages
Such outcomes, the RCM said, would undermine years of investment in midwifery education.
The RCM said the current situation reinforces the urgent need for investment in the maternity workforce, as outlined in its Safe Staffing = Safe Care campaign and RCM Cymru manifesto priorities.
Key demands include:
- Full funding and implementation of the Wales Perinatal Workforce Plan
- Delivery of maternity and neonatal assessment recommendations
- Assurance that no services are compromised due to staffing pressures
The organisation stressed that workforce investment must be matched with secure employment opportunities for newly trained staff.
Julie Richards, Director of RCM Cymru, commented:
“This is deeply concerning, particularly at a time when maternity services in Wales are already under significant pressure. Newly qualified midwives are a vital part of the workforce – they are skilled, committed and ready to provide high-quality care to women, babies and families. The prospect of them being unable to find employment is both troubling and of great concern.
“On one hand we have national reviews and assessments highlighting the urgent need to improve staffing levels to ensure safe, equitable care. On the other, we are seeing newly qualified midwives facing uncertainty about their future employment. That simply does not add up.”
RCM Cymru also confirmed it has written to HEIW and the Welsh Government following a recent reduction in commissioned midwifery training places in Wales.
Training numbers have fallen from 224 places to 144, a reduction the RCM warned could exacerbate workforce challenges in the years ahead.
The organisation said cuts to training, combined with delays in recruitment and limited job opportunities, risk creating a cycle of shortages that will be difficult to reverse.
RCM Cymru concluded that immediate, coordinated action is needed to ensure newly qualified midwives are supported, retained and valued within NHS Wales.
Without decisive intervention, the organisation warned that current workforce pressures could deepen, placing further strain on staff and services and risking the safety of maternity care across Wales.
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