Lecturers in the University of Northumbria's School of Health, Community & Education Studies (HCES) have received letters informing them their jobs are "at risk".

Unions claim the Newcastle-based university wants to cut 58 posts and has not ruled out compulsory job losses.

Colleagues are planning a strike and protest rally on 3 June.

The Royal College of Midwives has said 10,000 more midwives are needed throughout the UK.

'Defending staffing'

Northumbria University's training programme has scored highly in recent inspections.

But unions claim even voluntary redundancies at the site would worsen the staff-student ratio required by the NHS - which pays the university to train nurses and other health professionals.

A spokesman for the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (Natfhe), said: "There is a shortage of midwives, but the very people who are needed to teach future midwives are worried sick that their jobs are at risk.

"We are defending the quality of education by defending staffing.

'Very disappointing'

"The university seems only to want to fund areas which can make a profit."

A spokeswoman for Northumbria University said: "It is very disappointing that the union has decided to take this action, particularly as we have been working hard with staff towards the avoidance of compulsory redundancies, and because our Students' Union have refused to support any strike action.

"We have been making excellent progress in negotiations regarding voluntary redundancy, the closing date for which is not until 14 June, so we feel that the union's decision is somewhat premature.

"There are over 1,000 academic staff at Northumbria University, and to put this situation into perspective only 181 individuals voted for strike action and only 241 for action short of strike.

"In this context we trust that the majority of our staff will continue to provide the excellent teaching and support that students have come to expect at Northumbria University."