Midwives from Bedford are inviting members of the public to join them in Harpur Square on Sunday as part of a nationwide vigil calling for government action to address the UK-wide crisis in maternity services.
The March with Midwives event will take place simultaneously in over 70 towns and cities across the country at 2pm on Sunday.
The action aims to raise midwives’ concerns around staffing levels – particularly recruitment and retention in the profession – funding and staff safety.
“The government has a big job on its hands”
Two midwives from Bedford Hospital told the Bedford Independent why they are supporting the action on Sunday. We have changed their names to protect their identities.
“I’m sorry I can’t be there on Sunday, but I’ll be working on the maternity unit,” said Claire*. “I really don’t want to say anything specific as I don’t want to jeopardise my job.
“All I can say is I think we are in the same position as the majority of trusts Nationwide. There has been a lot of patient feedback on the Bedford Mums 2020 group on Facebook.
“I really do hope something positive will come from this March on Sunday but the government have got a big job on their hands to rectify this mess they have put the maternity services in.”
Staff shortages
In a recent special report on maternity services at Bedford Hospital, senior hospital staff were keen to point out that recruitment is their top priority following a damning CQC report in 2018 and 2020.
However, retaining midwives is a nationwide issue and in a statement to the Bedford Independent, a spokesperson from Bedford Hospitals Trust said: “The national challenges around the shortages of midwives are significantly affecting maternity services across the country; unfortunately, the situation at Bedfordshire Hospitals is no different to other Trusts.”
Liz Lees, chief nurse at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said they were looking at innovative ways to recruit and retain staff, retain staff and to encourage ex-midwives to return to the vocation.
“I am incredibly proud of the exceptional work our staff are doing across our maternity units in such difficult circumstances,” she said.
“Newly qualified midwives are at the greatest risk of leaving the profession”
“It’s all well and good saying there are new roles but there are no midwives to fill the roles,” said Lisa*, a midwife at Bedford Hospital.
“Newly qualified midwives are at greatest risk of leaving due to burn out and I have seen this time and time again.
“They start as a “preceptor” where they are supposed to be supported and mentored into their transition as a newly qualified midwife from a student (it’s a big responsibility and their registration pin is at risk). Yet there is NO STAFF to support them.
“I have had several newly qualified midwives crying on my shoulder during a shift. We need more staff.”
“Frustrated, angry, disillusioned”
The midwives will be joined in Harpur Square on Sunday by nurses, other health professionals, parents, lay birth workers and the Bedford and Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin.
He said: “I’ve been concerned about the crisis in maternity care, particularly to do with the national shortage of midwives for some time now, so I’m looking forward to joining the vigil to listen to and support the midwives in Bedford.
“Great steps have been taken to improve the service at Bedford Hospital, but the pandemic has placed further enormous pressure on staff. Midwives are crying out for us to support them to provide the best care for women, babies and their families and I will do my best to ensure they can.”
Asked if mandatory covid vaccines were an additional cause for midwives to leave the profession, Cathryn Watters of NMCWatch, a voluntary group supporting nurses and midwives, said: “From the midwives that are talking to us and coming for support, none have indicated they are leaving the profession due to mandatory vaccination planning.
“Those that come to us have, in the majority, been referred with a backlog of systemic issues from the workplace – poor staffing levels, lack of equipment and lack of taking concerns raised seriously.
“Those that leave are frustrated, angry and disillusioned, and a referral to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) when they were just trying their best, is just the last straw.”
*not their real names
