midwifery shortages – commentary from Blake Lapthorn's Clinical
Negligence team
Further to the national news today regarding midwifery
shortages, Blake Lapthorn was very concerned to hear of the
pressing need for more midwives.
There appear to be particular shortages in the
East Midlands and the East generally. Apparently, births are
becoming increasingly complex because of the growing number of
medical issues, particularly in older mothers-to-be who often need
extra support. It is felt that 4,700 extra midwives are required to
ensure that these added pressures can be dealt with. What is not
clear is whether the shortfall is due to midwives leaving the
profession or inadequate numbers of midwives being trained to meet
the obvious need.
Patricia Wakeford, a solicitor in the
Clinical Negligence team at Blake
Lapthorn in Southampton, comments: "I practised as a midwife
for over 20 years and have seen the changes in that time. I
remember in the 1980s having time to look after my patients. I was
always busy, but generally in the labour ward it would be
one-to-one care to ensure that appropriate care was given to every
woman and that she was supported through her labour and delivery. I
aimed to give each woman a positive experience and felt honoured to
share such an important time with many families over the years.
"As we moved into the 90s and 2000, it was
less likely to be one-to one-care. More was expected of midwives in
relation to their qualifications and I believe that the focus
changed. For example, I was told that I needed a degree or a
diploma to be able to move to the next pay grade. Clinically, I had
been doing all that was required and just wanted to keep on doing
that. I loved being a midwife, kept up-to-date and had many years
of experience. However, I decided to change career in 2005 and I
know of other midwives who did the same."
Well trained midwives are vital to ensure that
good care is given to mothers during their pregnancy, labour,
delivery and after care. There should be equal access to such
services where ever you live. This is not an option but a
necessity.
