Midwife crisis fears for London

Vacancy rates in the region also remain high and currently stand at 7.97%, the highest in the UK. This is up from 7.2% in 2006, and way above the national rate of 5.08%. A vacancy is only classed as a vacancy when a Trust is actively seeking to fill the post. Consequently, the RCM is concerned that the real vacancy rate is much higher. Trusts can also delete posts when they become vacant meaning they do not count in official figures.

Melanie Every, southern regional manager at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “How can we expect midwives to cope when their workload is racing ahead of staff numbers? They are struggling to provide the level of care promised by the government, and the birthrate is set to carry on increasing. Across the country we are really beginning to see the quality of care being compromised by poor staffing levels.”