More than 90% of final year midwifery students are struggling to find a job, a new survey published by the Royal College of Midwives reveals. The survey comes as the midwifery profession is moving into a new era as an all-graduate profession. The survey also revealed that 81% said the move to degree-only training would have a negative financial impact on them. Ten per cent of the students surveyed already had debts of £7,000 to £9,000.
Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the RCM, said: “This survey confirms what we have been saying for some time – that morale among student midwives is declining because of their accumulated debts and uncertainty about job prospects. However, the survey also shows that student midwives want to deliver high-quality care and apply their training, but too many are not getting this opportunity. We are campaigning for a £10,000 non-means tested bursary for all student midwives.
“She added: “While we are delighted that the Health Secretary recently announced a package of measures to recruit 3,400 full-time midwives over the next three years, including former midwives with a ‘golden hello’ of £3,000, our student midwives also need to be welcomed with a ‘silver smile’. A one-year job guarantee for newly-qualified midwives would ensure that they are brought and welcomed into the profession and NHS Trusts.”
