Anger over wording of adverts for midwives

NHS TRUSTS have come under fire for posting job adverts for midwives committed to “normal birth” – just over a week after a highly damning report into baby and mother deaths.

One advertisement posted by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said it is “seeking a highly motivated, experienced dynamic midwife to join our team who is committed to the philosophy of normal birth”.

The advertisement – which has since been taken down – said the staff member will work as part of midwifery unit teams that “are staffed by passionate, normality focused midwives”.

Similar adverts have been posted by NHS trusts in Lewisham and Airedale.

It follows a review of failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, where some mothers were made to have natural births despite the fact they should have been offered a Caesarean.

The review found that around 200 babies and nine mothers could have – or would have – survived if it had provided better care while the trust’s low Caesarean rate was regarded nationally and locally as a positive.

The adverts, dated April 4, drew condemnation on Twitter after being shared by patient safety campaigner James Titcombe. His son Joshua died at Furness General Hospital in 2008 from sepsis.

An NHS England spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of concerns regarding a number of job adverts and we will be contacting the relevant trusts to remind them of the importance of ensuring language is consistent with our aim that all women have the necessary information and support to make informed, personalised and safe decisions about their care.”

The NHS has written to all trusts to review its recommendations.