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England<br />
Midwife shortage<br />
25000 25,000<br />
20000 20,000<br />
15000 15,000<br />
10000 10,000<br />
5000 5,000<br />
0<br />
3,316 shortage<br />
3,394 shortage<br />
3,999 shortage<br />
4,359 shortage<br />
4,387 shortage<br />
5,174 shortage<br />
5,530 shortage<br />
6,032 shortage<br />
5,367 shortage<br />
5,328 shortage<br />
4,976 shortage<br />
4,787 shortage<br />
3,037 shortage<br />
2,618 shortage<br />
Number <strong>of</strong><br />
midwives<br />
Number <strong>of</strong><br />
midwives required<br />
Source: annual NHS nonmedical<br />
workforce censuses<br />
& RCM calculations<br />
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014<br />
We estimate that the NHS in England is short <strong>of</strong><br />
around 2,600 midwives. This is down on recent<br />
years, and much reduced from the high <strong>of</strong> around<br />
6,000 in 2008.<br />
We doubt however that this reduction is felt by<br />
midwives on the frontline <strong>of</strong> providing care.<br />
Does it feel different to be slightly less massively<br />
understaffed? We suspect not. Added to that there<br />
must surely be a cumulative effect from coping<br />
year after year after year with the stresses<br />
and strains caused by such a colossal shortfall in<br />
midwife numbers.<br />
Our only hope is that the gradual reduction in<br />
the shortage spurs decision-makers on to<br />
eliminate it for good. It is possible; Scotland, Wales<br />
and Northern Ireland have managed it for years.<br />
Note: All figures used here and<br />
throughout this report are an<br />
RCM estimate based on the<br />
minimum number <strong>of</strong> midwives<br />
needed to provide one-to-one<br />
care in labour for women,<br />
taking account <strong>of</strong> place <strong>of</strong><br />
birth, antenatal and postnatal<br />
care, annual and sick leave,<br />
training, managerial and<br />
specialist roles and other<br />
factors. The estimates<br />
do not take into account the<br />
increasing complexity <strong>of</strong> birth.<br />
Regional changes in number <strong>of</strong> midwives<br />
3,000 3000<br />
2,500 2500<br />
2,000 2000<br />
7%<br />
rise in the number<br />
<strong>of</strong> midwives in<br />
North West London<br />
between 2013<br />
and 2014<br />
1,500 1500<br />
1,000 1000<br />
Number <strong>of</strong> FTE<br />
midwives, 2013<br />
500<br />
500<br />
0<br />
0<br />
-5 0%<br />
East<br />
Midlands<br />
+39 +2%<br />
East <strong>of</strong><br />
England<br />
+28 +1%<br />
Yorkshire<br />
& the<br />
Humber<br />
+27 +3%<br />
Wessex<br />
+10 +1%<br />
Thames<br />
Valley<br />
+61 +7%<br />
North<br />
West<br />
London<br />
+5 0%<br />
South<br />
London<br />
+64 +4%<br />
North<br />
Central<br />
& East<br />
London<br />
+11 +1%<br />
Kent,<br />
Surrey<br />
& Sussex<br />
+22 +2%<br />
North<br />
East<br />
+52 +2%<br />
North<br />
West<br />
+70 +3%<br />
West<br />
Midlands<br />
+3 0%<br />
South<br />
West<br />
Number <strong>of</strong> FTE<br />
midwives, 2014<br />
Source: Health and Social<br />
Care Information Centre<br />
There has been a steady rise in the number <strong>of</strong><br />
midwives working in the NHS in England.<br />
The effort to increase this number has been<br />
welcome, but more midwives are needed.<br />
A service that is thousands <strong>of</strong> midwives short<br />
operates under intense stress and strain, and<br />
cannot possibly provide the quality <strong>of</strong> care that<br />
women deserve.<br />
The most recent figures show that some areas are<br />
growing their midwifery workforce faster than<br />
others, even ones next to each other – NW London<br />
increased its number <strong>of</strong> midwives by seven per cent<br />
between 2013 and 2014, whilst South London’s<br />
workforce was virtually unchanged.<br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Maternity</strong> <strong>Services</strong> | 7
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