NHS loses 29 midwives for every 30 that it trains

THE NHS is losing 29 midwives for every 30 trained, figures show. The research comes as staff vacancy levels published by the NHS prompted warnings of a “national emergency”.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said attempts to boost staff numbers had made little difference, because so many are leaving the NHS or taking retirement.

Its research shows that even though universities trained an extra 2,000 midwives in 2016-17, the total number rose by just 67, because so many workers left the service.

Gill Walton, the RCM chief executive, said: “It is of deep concern that we’re only seeing an increase of about one NHS midwife for every 30 or so graduating from our universities.”

It came as official data published by NHS Improvement, a watchdog, shows more than 107,743 NHS vacancies in England at the end of June, with one in eight nursing posts vacant. Tom Sandford, of the Royal College of Nursing, said the report painted a “bleak picture” – including a 17 per cent rise in nurse vacancies in just three months.

“The Government must immediately investigate this sudden spike,” he said.

Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at the King’s Fund think tank, said the shortage of nurses was at risk of becoming a “national emergency”.

Trusts across England were £814 million in deficit at the end of June, the report also reveals.

NHS Improvement said this is £22million better than planned at the beginning of the year, but £78million worse than in the year that ended in June 2017.

The projected deficit for the end of 2018-19, which stands at £519million, is “clearly unaffordable”, the report said.

The figures also show the number of patients waiting longer than a year for planned operations has more than doubled in 12 months. In total 3,402 patients had waited at least one year in June 2018, compared to 1,475 in June 2017.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said trusts “are doing all they can” to respond to increasing demand, workforce shortages, and financial pressures.

“However hard they run, they don’t seem able to outpace the increase in demand,” he said.

“Trusts tell us they are most worried about the workforce shortages they face, and it’s a real concern that these figures have shown such a big increase in vacancy levels.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the NHS was providing “world-class” care despite extra pressures.

He added: “We are committed to making the NHS the safest place in the world to have a baby – that’s why this year we announced a 25 per cent increase in midwifery training places.”