Midwife shortages: Your emails

Many health authorities are not on track to provide enough midwives for one-to-one care, figures obtained by the midwives' trade union suggest.

The Royal College of Midwives wants one midwife for every 28 births, but says only four Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) will hit or better this by 2012.

BBC News website readers have been sending in their comments:

I had two children in the UK and one in Germany. I had a midwife for the first, and consultancy care for the second. In comparison to the service in Germany my UK experience was a nightmare. We almost lost my second child and as a result of poorly trained staff, he now has disabilities. If the UK government wants to provide "high quality, safe maternity care" they have to pay for it, train local people and give nurses decent terms and conditions of employment to retain them. Importing cheap labour from outside is a false economy - it just doesn't deliver, that simple.
TBS, Germany

I had a dedicated midwife who, after 27 hours of labour, still didn't know my name and made so many mistakes I had to be taken into theatre. The quality should count, not so much the quantity.
Mrs G, Wolverhampton, England

I recently had my first baby. I was in labour for 27 hours - how is it possible to have a dedicated midwife for that length of time?! I had five midwives caring for me at various points - all of them were exceptionally professional, caring and able to explain clearly to me what was going on with my delivery. The NHS does need more midwives, but we should also pause a moment to be grateful for those that we already have and remember to reward them so that they stay in the profession.
Kate, Nottingham, UK

I gave birth to my little boy last July and I had a midwife with me the whole time. She really looked after my newborn son, and me. Midwives and other health professionals do not get enough credit. Well done.
Kim, Birmingham

I am 32 weeks pregnant and at each appointment I have seen a different midwife - at the last count it was five different ones. I have also been warned that I will probably not see the same one due to staff shortages. Several times last month the local maternity unit had to close as they were full and were sending people over 20 miles away. Also the antenatal classes consist of two one-hour sessions on a set day, at a set time once every six weeks - again due to lack of staff. These extra midwives can't come soon enough but will still be too late for me to have a pleasurable pregnancy.
Sarah Gott, Cambridgeshire

I don't know if my comments will be allowed being a mere man, but of my three sons the last two were born at home because that is what my wife wanted. She said that she wanted me to share the experience. I was present and I found it a very moving time. The midwife, Nurse Heath, now long passed away, was magnificent and became a friend and never forgotten. It was an experience that I shall never forget. I believe that that is something that should be available to everyone.
Leonard Lowe, United Kingdom

If midwife numbers are so short, why are the universities offering so few spaces for the thousands that want a career in midwifery and have the dedication required to give such a high service? Thousands of women are struggling to get onto midwifery courses purely because there are not enough spaces. If the government is willing to invest such a lot of money into NHS services then why not invest some more money into getting the professionals required trained.
Tiffany, Salisbury, Wiltshire

I am trying very hard to get a place to train as a midwife, but the competition is really high. I have worked in the maternity unit for a while, and know exactly what happens, but still am sat here waiting to see if they will let me train.
Anon, Yorkshire

I am not a midwife but have worked in the NHS and healthcare for many years. I would love to be able to retrain for a clinical role and would like to become a midwife but cannot afford to support myself while undertaking the study, in spite of the ridiculous bursary they offer. They need to make it easier financially to train in nursing and midwifery as even at the end of your study you will never earn vast amounts of money.
Sarah Smallwood, Stockport, UK

I'm a midwife, born and trained in the UK (qualified for 20 years now). I have been in Australia for 19 months. I have worked in Manchester and Blackpool and now here in Adelaide. Same problems everywhere, not enough staff for clients needs - it's frustrating for the ladies and for us. Training is better in the UK though and generally care to a higher standard in my experience.
Ann-Marie Stocker, Adelaide, Australia

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