Commenting on the release of figures on NHS staff numbers by the NHS Information Centre, Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said:
“The small increase in midwife numbers is welcome, but it is not enough, and I still believe we need over 4,000 extra midwives in the NHS in England. What we are seeing is the tailend of the previous government’s policies to increase the number of midwives. My fear is that this may be a peak in numbers before the inevitable slide downwards. “We are pleased that the Government is protecting student midwife training places in the next year. However, I am concerned that these may not translate into jobs in the NHS. “The RCM still believes that thousands more midwives are needed to cope with the historically high birthrate and the increasing complexity of births; all of which is putting pressure on maternity services and demanding more of midwives’ time.
