RCM comments on Panorama ‘Midwives under pressure’
Following the BBC Panorama program – Midwives under pressure – Gill Walton, CEO of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said:
Midwives, women and their families must be heartbreaking catalysts for a change. We have heard too many stories and read too many reports, all raising the same red flags of understaffing, lack of training, and raised concerns being ignored by those in charge, yet little progress.
“Too often bosses ignore or even retaliate against midwives concerned about care and safety. The NHS needs to do more to promote a positive working environment where maternity staff feel comfortable raising concerns or escalating issues. This is actively championed by the RCM in our Advocacy for High Standards programme.
“Trust committees need to be much more effective at investigating and acting on the information they receive. To do this, they need to have midwifery board level expertise so they can make recommendations to improve the situation and learn quickly from errors.
“Understaffing will undoubtedly jeopardize safety, which the RCM has long highlighted, and the many ratings of failing maternity services undoubtedly jeopardize safety. Short staffing affects the skills available for each shift and also means that staff do not have time to do attend essential training It is important that midwives and the whole birth team have time to train, learn and develop your knowledge and skills.
“The government needs to listen to the workers and women who work and use our maternity services and take action. We have done audit after audit and come up with the same findings and recommendations, but the government is still showing no urgency. Maternity workers and the women and families they care for deserve better..
