Number of East Lancashire midwives is a ‘concern’

2:00pm Friday 27th July 2012 in Health Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

IN SAFE HANDS But midwives numbers in East Lancashire are causing serious concerns, according the RCM IN SAFE HANDS But midwives numbers in East Lancashire are causing serious concerns, according the RCM

MORE midwives are needed in East Lancashire, according to experts at the Royal College of Midwifery.

Currently, 259 midwives are employed by The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), which runs maternity services at the Royal Blackburn Hospital , Burnley General, and newborn centres in Blackburn, Burnley and Rossendale.

The ratio of midwives to births is 1:31.8, against a RCM maximum recommendation of 1:28. To meet the target, another 35 midwifes need to be employed.

The RCM, which is calling on the Government to recruit 5,000 more midwives into the NHS in England because of an increased birth rate, said the East Lancashire figures were “a concern”.

It said a shortage across the North West of around 257 staff could lead to home births being denied, midwife-led units closing, and a lack of support in the postnatal period.

Anita Fleming, head of midwifery at ELHT, said the trust was “fully supportive” of the RCM’s campaign, and that more appointments are being made. She said: “The trust’s ratio of midwives to mothers is currently 1:31.8.

“However, this has to be taken in context with changes to the maternity workforce in recent years.

“The role of the Maternity Support Worker has been developed and locally we are increasing the numbers of support workers, including clerical and administration support, to free up midwives time to enable them to have more time to do things that only a midwife can do.”

She added: “Births at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust are on an increase currently.

“But this can be partly contributed to the range and choices of maternity services and place of birth with the opening of the Lancashire Women and Newborns Centre, birth centres in Blackburn, Burnley and Rossendale, and also to the closure of maternity units in neighbouring localities.

“We have appointed 18 new midwives over the past 12 months and have just shortlisted and will be interviewing soon.”

Manuela Helena Da Costa-Fernandes, spokesman for the RCM, said: “The ELHT figure is over the 1:28 ration limit, and it is a concern.”

Jeanne Tarrant, of the RCM, said: “More investment is needed, action is needed, and it is needed now.

“Without some serious attention and investment I have real fears that services in the North West and Greater Manchester will be struggling to cope with the demands on them.”

Comments (2)

9:28pm Fri 27 Jul 12

mavrick says...

Are these the same management who told us that closing the maternity services at Accrington Victoria, Rough lea, and others. would release more Midwives into the community? What a load of rubbish that was. We don't deserve true health professionals in this area. we treat them terribly, But It is all part of the run down of the NHS under the guise of recession, this condem lot have tried to blame the last government for this crisis. The truth is they are cutting £20 Billion from the NHS and are expressing surprise when the system fails to deliver.
I hope people have seen through the Lib dems for the traitors they are. The Tories are expected to attack public services full stop. I hope Labour can pull something together in time for the next elections. But we have all been here before.
Are these the same management who told us that closing the maternity services at Accrington Victoria, Rough lea, and others. would release more Midwives into the community? What a load of rubbish that was. We don't deserve true health professionals in this area. we treat them terribly, But It is all part of the run down of the NHS under the guise of recession, this condem lot have tried to blame the last government for this crisis. The truth is they are cutting £20 Billion from the NHS and are expressing surprise when the system fails to deliver. I hope people have seen through the Lib dems for the traitors they are. The Tories are expected to attack public services full stop. I hope Labour can pull something together in time for the next elections. But we have all been here before. mavrick

1:48pm Sat 28 Jul 12

kate11 says...

There are many reasons for the shortages that there have been in East Lancs for many years!
1 The trust bully their staff and so the moral is very low.
2 When experienced staff can stand it no longer they leave and are then not replaced to save money!
3 They then employ untrained Healthcare Assistants as Anita Fleming Head of Midwifery points out because they are cheaper to employ and so they expect them to take over some of the roles of the Midwives especially in birthing centres where midwifery staffing is dangerously low!
4 Experienced midwives are retiring early because they have had enough of being treated badly so rather than put up with it they go! Some experienced midwives have been downgraded recently under the umbrella of reorganising the system but we all know it is to save money!
5 If they then recruit any midwives they are usually newly qualified and this along with experienced midwives leaving, and the low ratio of midwives, and employing healthcare assistants to boost numbers means that a catastrophe is around the corner!!
As Anita Fleming says 'births are increasing' so why have the Trust not done forward planning and taken on more midwives to replace the experienced ones who have had enough and are leaving in droves before it had to be pointed out to them? Because they are hoping to get away with it to save money!!
There are many reasons for the shortages that there have been in East Lancs for many years! 1 The trust bully their staff and so the moral is very low. 2 When experienced staff can stand it no longer they leave and are then not replaced to save money! 3 They then employ untrained Healthcare Assistants as Anita Fleming Head of Midwifery points out because they are cheaper to employ and so they expect them to take over some of the roles of the Midwives especially in birthing centres where midwifery staffing is dangerously low! 4 Experienced midwives are retiring early because they have had enough of being treated badly so rather than put up with it they go! Some experienced midwives have been downgraded recently under the umbrella of reorganising the system but we all know it is to save money! 5 If they then recruit any midwives they are usually newly qualified and this along with experienced midwives leaving, and the low ratio of midwives, and employing healthcare assistants to boost numbers means that a catastrophe is around the corner!! As Anita Fleming says 'births are increasing' so why have the Trust not done forward planning and taken on more midwives to replace the experienced ones who have had enough and are leaving in droves before it had to be pointed out to them? Because they are hoping to get away with it to save money!! kate11

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