Following today's news item re shortage of midwives, AIMS has put out the
following Press Release:
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Sent: 30 July 1999 12:38
Subject: Midwife Shortages?
> UK midwives and consumers mailing list. ARM website address: -
http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/midwives.html
>
> PRESS RELEASE - 30th July 1999
>
> ASSOCIATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATERNITY SERVICES
> 21 Iver Lane, Iver, Buckinghamshire, SLO 9LH
> Tel: 01753-652781 Fax: 01753-654142 email: [log in to unmask]
>
> There is no shortage of midwives. There is a huge pool of midwives who
are
> no longer willing to work in obstetrically dominated cnetralised
hospitals.
> The Edgware Midwifery Birth Centre provides midwifery care to local women.
> They have a waiting list of midwives wanting to work there. Women want to
be
> looked after by a midwife they know who has looked after them during their
> pregnancy.
> In many cases Trusts have cut midwifery staffing levels to the point where
> midwives have become burnt out and women and babies are put at risk. They
> have also diluted staff by refusing to pay for more senior and experienced
> midwives.
> Until there are changes which enable midwives to practice midwifery
instead
> of obstetric nursing the shortages will continue. Thousands of trained
> midwives could be encouraged to return to the NHS if they were supported
in
> practising real midwifery.
> Unfortunately care is going in the wrong direction. The Government is
> supporting a scheme to establish "Higher Level Practice" a system which is
> intended to establish a select group of "specialist nurses" and which is
> totally inappropriate to midwifery. The midwife is already a specialist
and
> she should be paid and respected as such. Instead of imposing this
> irrelevant development on midwifery Trusts should be encouraged to
implement
> schemes which enable midwives to manage their own case loads. This
> initiative will result in increased recruitment, safer care, and happier
> mothers.
>
> NOTE: Midwives should not miss this opportunity to contact their own MP,
> Frank Dobson, and the media and impress upon them the problems. This is
an
> opportunity to get their attention, do not miss it!
> For further information contact Beverley Beech on (01753) 652781
> Fax (01753) 654142; email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
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