Midwifes missing meals to keep services running

A new survey from the Royal College of Midwives has highlighted how midwives are missing meals and delaying going to the toilet because they do not have enough time for breaks.

During a typical working week, RCM members revealed: 87 per cent delay going to the toilet because they don’t have enough time; 77 per cent skip meals including over a quarter who do so always or most of the time; 52 per cent feel dehydrated most or all of the time at work because they don’t have enough time to get a drink; and 37 per cent never or rarely take their entitled breaks.

Midwives are also working additional unpaid hours, on top of long shifts, with more than one in five working at least five extra hours each week for no pay.

Alice Sorby, Employment Relations Advisor at the RCM, said: “Midwives are putting their own health and wellbeing on the line to ensure that women and babies get the care they need – but it shouldn’t be either/or. The NHS should be doing all it can to promote staff retention and by support our members health in the workplace so they can deliver the very best care to women and their babies.

“The physical and mental health of midwives, maternity support workers and all NHS staff has never been more important, but sadly what the results of our member survey have revealed is there has been little improvement over the past four years. Covid-19 has undoubtedly increased the pressure on midwives, some of whom have been working additional hours unpaid just to keep maternity services open and running.”