Maternity staff quitting due to pressure and fear of making ‘tragic mistakes’

A report by the Royal College of Midwives has warned that some maternity units are ‘dangerous’, with midwives being left on their own to look after up to 15 women and their babies.

The RCM also reports that maternity departments are becoming ‘dangerous’ and ‘stressful’, with ‘epidemic’ levels of bullying, leading to an exodus of demoralised and overworked midwives.

The report has been published following a survey of 2,719 midwives who had planned or were planning to leave the NHS. Many of the midwives surveyed stated that they were finding it more and more difficult to adequately care for women and babies.  A third had resigned and two thirds were intending to do so.

Guidelines suggest that midwives have ideally four and a maximum of six mothers and babies to look after at any one time – one of the midwives surveyed said that she had been left on her own to look after 15 mothers and their babies. Another midwife said “I am tired and worn out and am concerned that if this continues I might make a tragic mistake.”

Chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives Cathy Warwick, said “That so many midwives are left or intend to leave is dispiriting and worrying.

“I read the comments of the midwives in the report with increasing distress and concern, for them and for mothers and babies. Maternity services are performing as well as they are on the backs of the selfless dedication of midwives and other staff, and their capacity to go that extra mile for mothers and babies, day after day.

“However, this shows that many cannot fight that battle any longer. Enormous demands are being made on midwives and the services they work for, yet investment from the Government remains inadequate to provide the quality of care that women deserve.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

Freephone: 0800 028 2969

For further information, please see our cerebral palsy and birth injury website:

http://www.cerebralpalsyclaimssolicitors.co.uk

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.