The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed news that funding has been unlocked to get newly- qualified midwives into their first job. Following today’s announcement by the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Wes Streeting, NHS England will make ‘top up’ funding available to NHS Trusts to enable them to take on those who have just graduated.
Earlier this year, the RCM highlighted the concerns of final year midwifery students about their future employment and, as recently as last week, was hearing from those who have just graduated that there were no jobs in their area or they were being offered just part-time roles. The College has warned of the risk of losing this cohort of newly-qualified midwives, some of whom are already talking about walking away from midwifery as they can’t afford to be unemployed.
Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said:
“Today’s news will be a massive relief to graduating midwives across England. We’re pleased that Wes Streeting has listened to us and to our student members and taken action. And it’s not a moment too soon. Just last week, we heard from final year students who were fearful that they’d never fulfil their dream of becoming a midwife. While this still doesn’t guarantee a job for every newly-qualified midwife, it does offer glimmers of hope and goes some way to get many of them on the career ladder.
“These are people, mainly women, who have worked incredibly hard to complete their degree. One of the students we spoke to this week said that studying midwifery isn’t for the faint hearted, and she’s right. Your term times are far longer than most students, you have clinical placements, which may be miles away from where you live or study, and you’re accruing tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt. But the dream of becoming a midwife is what keeps you going. For many, thanks to today’s announcement, that dream will become a reality.”
The RCM has described NHS bodies failing to reflect the increase in midwifery student places, a move specifically to address workforce shortages, in its hiring plans as a ‘slow-motion disaster’. Much more must be done, according to the College, to ensure that future students – not only those who will be graduating this time next year, but those who are thinking about a career in midwifery – don’t find themselves in a similar situation in years to come. The RCM was also quick to point out that, while this will free up over 800 places for newly-qualified midwives, these will not be shared evenly across NHS Trusts, nor will there be a position for everyone.
While the RCM has welcomed today’s announcement, it warns that is a temporary patch on a broken system. Rather than funding new posts, this scheme relies on using vacancies for maternity support workers (MSWs) and providing ‘top up’ funding to Trusts. The RCM has sought reassurances from NHS England that those MSW posts will be reopened as newly-qualified midwives take up other vacancies.
Gill continued:
“While this is definitely good news for many newly-qualified midwives, we don’t want this to be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Maternity support workers are a vital part of the midwifery community, supporting clinics, parent education and so much more. Although we’ve been assured that repurposing the MSW vacancies is a temporary measure, we will be keeping a close eye on Trusts to make sure they are opening them back up as soon as possible.”
ENDS
To contact the RCM Media Office call 07767 999341, or email media@rcm.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- Student midwife case studies:
Responding to the RCM’s survey one student midwife told the RCM:
“It’s dire. Only eight jobs became available at one trust and over 40 were shortlisted for it including myself. No jobs at my home trust at all and many did not get offered interviews for the other local trust which closed early as they were flooded with applications. I’m really scared for my future and that I’ve accumulated so much student debt and the overall stress of the course and can’t even get my dream job at the end. I am absolutely devastated and feel like I’ve let my family down”.
Another said:
“Most NHS trusts are saying that the lack of jobs is due to lack in funding and it’s worrying as for studying for 3 years you would hope to secure a job after especially with the debt we are left with after studying”.
In May one midwife on the cusp of qualifying told the RCM, the following:
“There are seven hospitals in the pan-Birmingham area, none of which have released jobs for newly qualified students yet. Those that are releasing jobs will do so next month and students have been warned there are not many being released. One Trust has already disclosed that they have no funding for newly qualified posts at the moment. There is a high chance I will graduate with no job. I’m 47-year-old with four children and a mortgage and don’t have the option to apply out of my local region.”
