Johnson Announces An Extra 4,000 Midwives For The NHS, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 25 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced a package of measures to recruit an extra 4,000 midwives to the NHS over the next three years.

During a visit to Royal Victoria Infirmary Maternity Unit in Newcastle, the Health Secretary will outline plans to give former midwives a 'golden hello' worth up to £3,000 to help them return to work after a break in service.

The Department of Health and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) will launch a Return to Practice campaign in the summer, with incentives including free training, support with childcare and travel costs plus a grant of up to £1,500. The total value of the package will be around £3,000.

Alan Johnson said:

"The number of births in England is rising. To keep pace with this increase and to improve the quality of care to mothers, we will recruit an additional 1000 midwives on our wards and in our communities by 2009, rising to around 4000 by 2012.

"Many of these extra midwives will be new to the profession, but there are also former midwives whose expertise could be brought back to the NHS given the right support. This is why we will make up to £3000 worth of support available to each returning midwife, providing free training and financial support while they study.

"In January I announced extra funding of £330m over three years for maternity services. Trusts will have access to this additional money from April to invest in expanding the workforce."

Dame Karlene Davis, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said:

"I welcome Alan Johnson's announcement which represents a recognition of the need to increase midwifery numbers. The RCM will wish to see a sustained programme of support for midwives from the Government. We will continue to work with the Government and the NHS to achieve this.

"This is a significant step on the road to delivering on Maternity Matters, the Government's blue-print for maternity services, and providing a quality service for women, their babies and families."

Alastair Henderson, Deputy Director of NHS Employers said:

"Employers recognise the need to strengthen maternity services and recruiting additional midwifes is a crucial part of this. We are looking forward to working with the Royal College of Midwives and the Department of Health to deliver an effective and focussed NHS Careers return to practice campaign that delivers midwives to the areas where they are most needed."

The Return to Practice campaign is an important part of a wider drive to recruit 4,000 more midwives by 2012. We are also working closely with Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) on a detailed analysis of the midwifery needs in every area of the country. This will enable us to refine our delivery plans at the local level.

There are currently a number of courses available nationwide to give those who wish to return to Midwifery both the confidence and competence to meet current professional requirements for practice.

Midwives who have taken a break from midwifery practice but whose registration is still active do not need to undertake a formal return to practice programme and should seek advice from the Royal College of Midwives or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Notes

1. £1500 financial support - The grants will be available to midwives who enrol on a return to practice course. Further detail will be announced in the summer.

2. Numbers
Figures on the numbers of midwives are measured by headcount and by Whole Time Equivalents (WTEs). WTE's takes into account the fact that more than one person may be employed to cover a single post equivalent (job sharers, part timers). 3,400 wtes is equal to approximately 4,000 headcount. There are currently 24,469 midwives employed in England equal to 18,862 WTE midwives. There has been a 20% increase in the number of students entering training to become a midwife between 1996/97 and 2006/07. In 2006, there were 635,748 births in England, compared to 572,826 in 2000. This equates to an increase of 11% in 6 years.

3. Return to practice - former registered midwives wishing to return to the profession can take a return-to-practice course. Courses are available throughout the UK and include a mixture of theory and clinical placements. Contact your local NHS Trust for details.

4. Salaries
Newly qualified midwives working within the NHS can earn between £19,600 and £25,500 year. Midwifery team managers can earn around £37,500 a year. Consultant midwives can earn up to £62,500. Figures are a guideline only. Extra allowances can be earned for additional responsibilities, length of service, and geographical location.

5. Bursaries - nursing and midwifery diploma and degree courses attract a non-repayable bursary to cover living expenses. Bursaries for a diploma are non-means tested; bursaries for the degree are means-tested. Course fees are also usually paid. Check the NHS Student Bursaries website for details.

6. Overseas trained midwives - midwifes who trained, qualified and registered overseas, may need to complete a midwifery adaptation programme in order to meet the midwives part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. For more details, it is essential to contact the NMC.

7. Maternity Support Workers - Maternity support workers are not midwives and are not intended as midwife substitutes. They provide care to women, their partners and babies, before, during and after childbirth and under the direction of a qualified midwife.

8. Midwifery education review - Those who start training as a midwife on or after September 2008, will need to complete a Degree in Midwifery. The diploma is being phased out; the final intake of students will be spring 2008.

9. Professional registration - Qualified midwives must renew professional registration with the NMC every three years. To re-register they need to have worked a minimum of 450 hours and completed at least 35 hours' professional development every three years. Check with the NMC for details.

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