Home / Health / New Midwives Face Job Hunt Despite NHS Strain
New Midwives Face Job Hunt Despite NHS Strain
1 Jul
Summary
- About half of Harriet Shelton's midwifery cohort found jobs.
- A third of newly qualified midwives lack NHS roles nationally.
- Government plans 1,000 temporary roles for new midwives.
Many student midwives are finding it challenging to secure employment following their training, even as maternity services report increased pressure. Harriet Shelton, a graduate from Grimsby, shared her disappointment after failing to find a position, noting that only about 15 out of her 30-person cohort obtained jobs.
This situation is supported by a national survey from the Royal College of Midwives, which indicated that roughly one-third of newly qualified midwives are currently without NHS roles. The Department of Health and Social Care has responded by announcing plans to create 1,000 temporary positions for these graduates, allocating more than £10 million in government funding to facilitate their entry into the NHS.
This initiative comes as the government commits to overhauling maternity and neonatal care, following a review that highlighted systemic issues in providing consistently safe and compassionate care. Shelton emphasized her motivation for midwifery was to support women during childbirth, a vulnerable time where compassionate care is paramount. The unexpected shortage of available posts has been disheartening for graduates.
