Demoralised, powerless, overworked, scared and ignored....... Five words one should never need to hear from Midwives.

So why is it that more and more Midwives in the UK are feeling this way?

In the UK the role of the Midwife is being stretched to such an alarming length that many feel something soon will snap and none of them want it to be on their shift! Valuable, experienced and amazingly talented midwives are leaving the profession because they feel they are treading a very fine line between life and death.

This isn't an over dramatisation of facts this is how the system is currently..... and yes we mean currently in 2010 not 1810!!

Midwives expected to care for more labouring mothers than is recommended, Midwives working past their salaried shifts, Babies and Mothers left unchecked because there simply isn't anyone to check them, basic human needs such as refreshment and comfort breaks are being scrapped because quite simply.... if the Midwife leaves to have her break there would be no one to care for the Mothers & Babies!

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) estimates that an extra 5,000 midwives are needed in England alone simply to offer a basic standard of care.

“If it is a system failure then if anything goes wrong the Midwife will be covered”

Not according to The Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] code which says: As a professional, you are personally accountable for actions and omissions in your practice and must always be able to justify your decisions.

Anyone that has tried to blame the system will know... it isn't easy.

“So tell someone up top!”

Indeed... it also states in the NMC: You must inform someone in authority if you experience problems that prevent you working within this code or other nationally agreed standards. You must report your concerns in writing if problems in the environment of care are putting people at risk

 This has been done by countless Midwives and it is apparent that no action is being taken to improve things.

“Why don't they go on strike?”

Well that would be a start, that would be one way of bringing the public awareness to a slippery slope situation. But here's the spanner in that work.... Midwives are not permitted to strike or rather they are but are bound by their duty of care codes.. see NMC code reference above!

“OK so how can we help?”

Sign this petition to show that you would like to see a major overhaul of the Maternity Care System especially the working conditions, patient safety and rights of the Midwife.
Also in the comments please let us know if you would be willing to take part in a peaceful protest in London next year.

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