Midwives are to consider industrial action for the first time in their history over a pay offer in the latest sign of unrest among NHS staff - reports the BBC.
Midwives in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been offered a 1.5% pay rise followed by an extra 1% later.
The government says this is affordable, but midwives want 2.5% immediately - as is happening in Scotland.
Union leaders have been asked by midwives to consider industrial action as nurses ponder a similar move.
Last week, the Royal College of Nursing announced it would be balloting members to see if they wanted to be balloted on industrial action.
Nurses are also angry about the pay offer and if they did decide to take action it would also be a first for them.
Delegates at the Royal College of Midwives conference asked the union's governing council to consider balloting the 37,000 members over industrial action.
The college said the average midwife on £26,700 a year was facing a cut of nearly £700 in real terms as the retail price index shows inflation is running at 4.5%.
RCM general secretary Dame Karlene Davis said: "This overwhelming vote shows the strength of feeling about this issue."
Showing posts with label midwives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label midwives. Show all posts
Friday, 25 May 2007
Monday, 30 April 2007
Post-natal depression hits 20% of mothers
The Daily Mail reports today that the rate of new mothers suffering depression has doubled to hit 20%.
The rise is being blamed on the distressing experiences suffered by many women during labour at over-stretched NHS maternity units all over the country.
The survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) shows the number of mothers of children up to a year old who have the condition is even higher - at 27% - and also found that the risk of becoming depressed was far higher for women who had a bad experience during the birth.
The survey showed that 41% of mothers with post-natal depression (PND) had endured a bad birth, compared to just 25% of all mothers surveyed.
Only 14% of PND mothers described their birth as good, compared to 37% of all mothers.
The RCM blames a shortage of 10,000 NHS midwives for the problem, as it makes it harder for hospitals to provide a good service to pregnant women. One of the main problems is mothers being left alone too soon after the birth.
Last week official figures showed there were 339 fewer midwives in the NHS in 2006 than in 2005, while the birth rate is rising. Maternity units in some areas are also facing closure, with ante-natal classes being cut or reduced.
The rise is being blamed on the distressing experiences suffered by many women during labour at over-stretched NHS maternity units all over the country.
The survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) shows the number of mothers of children up to a year old who have the condition is even higher - at 27% - and also found that the risk of becoming depressed was far higher for women who had a bad experience during the birth.
The survey showed that 41% of mothers with post-natal depression (PND) had endured a bad birth, compared to just 25% of all mothers surveyed.
Only 14% of PND mothers described their birth as good, compared to 37% of all mothers.
The RCM blames a shortage of 10,000 NHS midwives for the problem, as it makes it harder for hospitals to provide a good service to pregnant women. One of the main problems is mothers being left alone too soon after the birth.
Last week official figures showed there were 339 fewer midwives in the NHS in 2006 than in 2005, while the birth rate is rising. Maternity units in some areas are also facing closure, with ante-natal classes being cut or reduced.
Monday, 26 March 2007
NHS cuts 'hit antenatal classes'
Hospitals in parts of England and Wales are reducing or even axing services for pregnant women because of the NHS's financial problems.
Antenatal classes and breastfeeding tuition are being affected, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and Royal College of Midwives have told the BBC.
They said women were being deprived of much-needed advice and support.
Antenatal classes set out what happens in labour and what options women have about how to give birth, as well as offering breastfeeding advice and information on what to expect in the first few weeks as a parent.
The National Service Framework on maternity services, published in 2004, said good antenatal care should include providing access to parenting education and preparation for birth.
Whether or not services are provided depends on local primary care trusts, who pay the local hospital to provide them.
The NCT, which provides paid-for antenatal classes for women, started to compile reports from members about local cuts last October.
So far it has been told 19 areas across England and Wales have either cut or closed antenatal classes or visits to maternity units.
Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the NCT, said: "So much of the NHS is closing antenatal classes down. There are a lot of people who would have gone to those classes, but they can't."
Ms Phipps said there were also anecdotal reports that postnatal midwife visits, designed to check on the health of the mother and the baby, were also being reduced.
Mervi Jokinen, of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "The NHS is in grave difficulties financially.
"With maternity services, they have looked at what they can leave out. We understand that a concerning amount of antenatal classes are being cut.
"NCT classes are very good, but women and their partners don't get to know the midwives they will be seeing when they have their babies, like they do with NHS classes."
One of the areas which has been hit is Maidstone in Kent, where antenatal classes were cut from four sessions to one in October last year.
But Tracey Jewsbury, the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NCT representative, said that its most recent event was inundated, with 300 parents attending.
She said the new arrangements would penalise those who could not access or afford the £150 charge for NCT classes.
"People are desperate for information. But we are definitely heading for a two-tier system."
In Romsey, Hampshire, NHS antenatal classes were cut completely last June.
Instead, midwives go to women's homes for a longer than normal 36-week check and give them information about what to expect during labour and birth then.
Local NCT representative Barbara Wyant said: "It doesn't really seem to be an economy. If they are going out to do longer visits with each woman, they won't be able to see as many people."
Maria Dore, senior midwifery manager at Southampton University Healthcare Trust, said: "We have been very open about the pressure we are under to provide a safe, high-quality maternity service for everyone as the birth rate in this area continues to rise.
"One of the steps we have been forced to take in order to maintain safety is restricting the number of antenatal classes that are offered by our maternity staff."
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman and Romsey MP Sandra Gidley has written to ministers about the cuts to classes.
A former NCT teacher, she said it would be the most deprived families who would suffer. "The people who are most in need are the ones least able to access information."
Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation - which represents over 90% of NHS organisations, said: "We would not want women to be going through pregnancy without all of the relevant information.
"It is especially important that women living in deprived areas receive this information and support - as historically it would seem they do not tend to try and access antenatal services.
Sandra Gidley MP may well be protesting to ministers about cuts to classes in her Romsey constituency and beyond. But as the problems are being caused by the NHS's financial problems, if she then approves wasting billions of pounds that could solve the problems on the EU, those protests will surely be seen as nothing more than posturing.
Antenatal classes and breastfeeding tuition are being affected, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and Royal College of Midwives have told the BBC.
They said women were being deprived of much-needed advice and support.
Antenatal classes set out what happens in labour and what options women have about how to give birth, as well as offering breastfeeding advice and information on what to expect in the first few weeks as a parent.
The National Service Framework on maternity services, published in 2004, said good antenatal care should include providing access to parenting education and preparation for birth.
Whether or not services are provided depends on local primary care trusts, who pay the local hospital to provide them.
The NCT, which provides paid-for antenatal classes for women, started to compile reports from members about local cuts last October.
So far it has been told 19 areas across England and Wales have either cut or closed antenatal classes or visits to maternity units.
Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the NCT, said: "So much of the NHS is closing antenatal classes down. There are a lot of people who would have gone to those classes, but they can't."
Ms Phipps said there were also anecdotal reports that postnatal midwife visits, designed to check on the health of the mother and the baby, were also being reduced.
Mervi Jokinen, of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "The NHS is in grave difficulties financially.
"With maternity services, they have looked at what they can leave out. We understand that a concerning amount of antenatal classes are being cut.
"NCT classes are very good, but women and their partners don't get to know the midwives they will be seeing when they have their babies, like they do with NHS classes."
One of the areas which has been hit is Maidstone in Kent, where antenatal classes were cut from four sessions to one in October last year.
But Tracey Jewsbury, the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NCT representative, said that its most recent event was inundated, with 300 parents attending.
She said the new arrangements would penalise those who could not access or afford the £150 charge for NCT classes.
"People are desperate for information. But we are definitely heading for a two-tier system."
In Romsey, Hampshire, NHS antenatal classes were cut completely last June.
Instead, midwives go to women's homes for a longer than normal 36-week check and give them information about what to expect during labour and birth then.
Local NCT representative Barbara Wyant said: "It doesn't really seem to be an economy. If they are going out to do longer visits with each woman, they won't be able to see as many people."
Maria Dore, senior midwifery manager at Southampton University Healthcare Trust, said: "We have been very open about the pressure we are under to provide a safe, high-quality maternity service for everyone as the birth rate in this area continues to rise.
"One of the steps we have been forced to take in order to maintain safety is restricting the number of antenatal classes that are offered by our maternity staff."
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman and Romsey MP Sandra Gidley has written to ministers about the cuts to classes.
A former NCT teacher, she said it would be the most deprived families who would suffer. "The people who are most in need are the ones least able to access information."
Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation - which represents over 90% of NHS organisations, said: "We would not want women to be going through pregnancy without all of the relevant information.
"It is especially important that women living in deprived areas receive this information and support - as historically it would seem they do not tend to try and access antenatal services.
Sandra Gidley MP may well be protesting to ministers about cuts to classes in her Romsey constituency and beyond. But as the problems are being caused by the NHS's financial problems, if she then approves wasting billions of pounds that could solve the problems on the EU, those protests will surely be seen as nothing more than posturing.
Tuesday, 9 January 2007
Leeds: Shortage of midwives blamed in baby death inquest
A shortage of midwives was blamed at an inquest last month as a factor in the death of a baby girl at Leeds General Infirmary, reports the Yorkshire Post.
Caitlin Rose Simpson died suddenly after birth as a result of an infection which could have been prevented if her mother had been induced sooner, the hearing was told.
It took almost three days from when mother-of-four Janine Howarth’s waters broke to her giving birth, because of a lack of beds and medical staff in the delivery suite.
Caitlin Rose Simpson died suddenly after birth as a result of an infection which could have been prevented if her mother had been induced sooner, the hearing was told.
It took almost three days from when mother-of-four Janine Howarth’s waters broke to her giving birth, because of a lack of beds and medical staff in the delivery suite.
Monday, 8 January 2007
Struggling midwives left feeling the pain
The Royal College of Midwives today released a survey of heads of midwifery across the country which has revealed that, while births are on the rise, two thirds claim that their units were understaffed and more than one in five saying they had lost staff last year.
Quoted in the Daily Telegraph, Louise Silverton, the deputy general secretary of the college said:
"Heads of midwifery are in charge of making sure that women have a good birthing experience and that is very hard when a third of those who responded to our survey said their maternity services budget had been cut, that a total recruitment freeze was still in place in many units and that newly-qualified midwives are not getting jobs.
"This survey should make it very clear that maternity services are being pared back at a time when the Government's manifesto pledges to give all women choice over where and how they give birth as well as being supported by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy.
"Unless midwifery services are expanded there is no hope of these manifesto commitments being achieved."
The report goes on to cite cutbacks in the use of qualified staff and in training budgets, with a third saying their training budget had been cut by more than 75% and two thirds by over 50%. 66% of senior midwives who responded also reported that their NHS trusts were in deficit in 2005-06.
MPs need to decide whether, faced with clear shortages such as this, they are going to approve sending billions more pounds to the audit-failing EU when the EU budget deal comes before Parliament, or more properly save that money for such essential services.
Particularly Labour MPs, when such a service relates to a clear manifesto commitment.
Quoted in the Daily Telegraph, Louise Silverton, the deputy general secretary of the college said:
"Heads of midwifery are in charge of making sure that women have a good birthing experience and that is very hard when a third of those who responded to our survey said their maternity services budget had been cut, that a total recruitment freeze was still in place in many units and that newly-qualified midwives are not getting jobs.
"This survey should make it very clear that maternity services are being pared back at a time when the Government's manifesto pledges to give all women choice over where and how they give birth as well as being supported by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy.
"Unless midwifery services are expanded there is no hope of these manifesto commitments being achieved."
The report goes on to cite cutbacks in the use of qualified staff and in training budgets, with a third saying their training budget had been cut by more than 75% and two thirds by over 50%. 66% of senior midwives who responded also reported that their NHS trusts were in deficit in 2005-06.
MPs need to decide whether, faced with clear shortages such as this, they are going to approve sending billions more pounds to the audit-failing EU when the EU budget deal comes before Parliament, or more properly save that money for such essential services.
Particularly Labour MPs, when such a service relates to a clear manifesto commitment.
Sunday, 7 May 2006
Half of all NHS hospitals can't afford to replace midwives
The Daily Telegraph reports today that more than one in three hospitals are cutting budgets for maternity care as the National Health Service financial crisis deepens.
The cuts mean that almost half of all health trusts are not replacing midwives who leave the service, according to research by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
Meanwhile, one in four heads of midwifery have also been forced to reduce home visits and 10 per cent are cutting back on home births, despite NHS guidance that women should be allowed to opt for such a procedure.
Last night, the RCM's general secretary, Dame Karlene Davis, said: "Mothers need to be reassured that they will have the caring support of the midwife they know, and in the situation which best suits their family. This is very important and if the knee-jerk reaction to funding is to freeze recruitment and further reduce the number of midwives, then everyone can see it makes it difficult to achieve."
The results of the survey come ahead of this week's RCM conference where Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, is expected to face further grassroots anger over cuts.
The cuts mean that almost half of all health trusts are not replacing midwives who leave the service, according to research by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
Meanwhile, one in four heads of midwifery have also been forced to reduce home visits and 10 per cent are cutting back on home births, despite NHS guidance that women should be allowed to opt for such a procedure.
Last night, the RCM's general secretary, Dame Karlene Davis, said: "Mothers need to be reassured that they will have the caring support of the midwife they know, and in the situation which best suits their family. This is very important and if the knee-jerk reaction to funding is to freeze recruitment and further reduce the number of midwives, then everyone can see it makes it difficult to achieve."
The results of the survey come ahead of this week's RCM conference where Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, is expected to face further grassroots anger over cuts.
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