Unsafe staffing affects how midwives care for women and babies - poll

MORE than nine in 10 midwives have said that unsafe staffing levels are directly impacting the quality of care they provide for women and babies.

- 

And more than three quarters have considered leaving the profession in the past year, with safety concerns among the top reasons, according to the survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

It comes as the largest maternity review in the history of the NHS is set to be published, detailing how widespread failings led to the deaths of babies and caused avoidable harm.

The RCM poll of more than 3,500 members, taken from June 8 to 18, found that 93% think staffing levels directly impact the quality of care staff can provide.

In the week from June 1 to June 7, some 77% of midwives told the survey their ward was not safely staffed.

Three quarters of midwives said they had considered leaving - the top reasons were staffing levels (65%), safety concerns (54%), work-life balance (54%) and the impact the job is having on their mental health (41%).