Midwives on the march in the city
HUNDREDS JOIN MATERNITY SERVICE ‘CRISIS’ PROTEST
HUNDREDS of marchers descended on the Forest Recreation Ground yesterday to protest about the “crisis” in maternity care.
In a speech to the protesters, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome demanded that the Government listen to their concerns.
The marchers were part of the national March With Midwives campaign for immediate change improvements to maternity services.
Under-staffing and other pressures have led to 57 percent of midwives planning to leave the NHS over the next year, according to a survey by the Royal College of Midwives.
Chantelle Thornley, one of the organisers and a midwife for 25 years, said: “The reason is to come and protest the state of maternity care. There is a lack of investment from the Government.
“Enough is enough.
“We don’t do this job for the pay. We do it for job satisfaction and being with people at the beginning of their lives and families.
“It is a vigil for maternity care for the East Midlands. People from Derby and Leicester are coming.” Stella Nickday, 69, said: “I’m here because my daughter was a midwife. “We’ve set up a trust in her memory that supports initial training for midwives in Liberia. “Helen (her daughter) worked and volunteered there. The burnout rate is massive. I’m supporting midwives as I know how exhausting and stressful the job can be.
“The stress levels are massive. They work 12-hour shifts with no breaks. It’s sheer exhaustion.” Rhona Darling 21, had travelled from Leicester.
She said: “The main reason we’re here is because of the midwifery crisis. “Underfunding of maternity services is leading to poorer care and affecting the well being of staff.
“We need to do something about it now.” Similar events took place all over the country yesterday. Recently retired Karen Evans, 65, was a midwife for 39 and a half years. She said: “I’m here in support for my colleagues who are still working. I’ve worked at the City Hospital all my life.”
We don’t do this job for the money. We do it for job satisfaction
Chantelle Thornley