This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
RCM calls on Welsh government to future proof midwife profession
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on the Welsh government to do more to encourage students to take up the profession, warning that the region could face a midwife shortage as many midwives look to retire.
According to the RCM, 35 per cent of midwives working in the NHS are now in their 50s and 60s, while an increasing number of babies are being born to women in their 40s.
In its annual State of Maternity Services, the RCM warned that the age profile of mothers is changing, with older mothers, who more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and birth, becoming more commonplace.
Cathy Warwick, RCM CEO, explained: “Almost 1,100 NHS midwives in England are in their sixties, and overall a third of midwives in England are in their fifties or sixties. And it is not just a challenge facing the health service in England; in fact, the situation is more pronounced in the other parts of the UK.
“In Wales, just over a third of midwives (35 per cent) are aged at least 50. In Northern Ireland, it is two midwives in every five (40 per cent). And Scotland is the part of the UK with the largest proportion in their fifties or sixties: 1,432 midwives and maternity care assistants there are in this age bracket, making up 41 per cent of the workforce.”
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
