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06/03/2014
Critical Shortage Of Midwives - INMO
The results of a midwifery staffing survey, carried out by the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) and released today, confirms the health service has a critical shortage of midwives in all of its 19 maternity hospitals/units.
In addition the survey finds that the internationally recommended midwife to birth ratio, of 1 : 29.5 births, is not in place, in any hospitals/units, with the ratio varying from 1 : 30 to 1 : 55 and a national average of 1 : 38.
This internationally recommended midwife to birth ratio, as put forward by Birthrate Plus, is accepted by the NHS in the UK, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal Colleges of Obs and Gynae, Paediatrics and Child Health and Anaesthetists and the UK Independent National Audit Office .
The staffing survey, carried out in February, also confirms the following:
• the maternity unit in Portlaoise is the poorest staffed unit, in the country, at a ratio of one midwife to 55 births and requires 33 additional midwives, immediately, to reach the recommended ratio;
• the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, which is now the support, for Portlaoise, is itself severely understaffed with a midwife to birth ratio of 1 : 40;
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (maternity unit), despite numerous reports, and recommendations, calling for improved staffing, remains grossly understaffed with a ratio of one midwife to 37 births.
INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: "This survey confirms we are over 550 midwives short of the number needed to deliver safe, better and high quality care to mothers and babies. Births in this country continue to be at a very high level, relative to the EU, and have increased, by over 16%, in the last decade while midwifery staffing numbers have been cut. It is also a fact that births are becoming increasingly complex which, in turn, puts even greater demands upon midwives and maternity services generally.
"What is needed now is immediate action on the recruitment of additional midwifery staff. We do not need any more reports or reviews as best practice, in the form of midwife to birth ratio is now well accepted internationally and needs to be implemented here without delay."
(CD/IT)
In addition the survey finds that the internationally recommended midwife to birth ratio, of 1 : 29.5 births, is not in place, in any hospitals/units, with the ratio varying from 1 : 30 to 1 : 55 and a national average of 1 : 38.
This internationally recommended midwife to birth ratio, as put forward by Birthrate Plus, is accepted by the NHS in the UK, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal Colleges of Obs and Gynae, Paediatrics and Child Health and Anaesthetists and the UK Independent National Audit Office .
The staffing survey, carried out in February, also confirms the following:
• the maternity unit in Portlaoise is the poorest staffed unit, in the country, at a ratio of one midwife to 55 births and requires 33 additional midwives, immediately, to reach the recommended ratio;
• the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, which is now the support, for Portlaoise, is itself severely understaffed with a midwife to birth ratio of 1 : 40;
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (maternity unit), despite numerous reports, and recommendations, calling for improved staffing, remains grossly understaffed with a ratio of one midwife to 37 births.
INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: "This survey confirms we are over 550 midwives short of the number needed to deliver safe, better and high quality care to mothers and babies. Births in this country continue to be at a very high level, relative to the EU, and have increased, by over 16%, in the last decade while midwifery staffing numbers have been cut. It is also a fact that births are becoming increasingly complex which, in turn, puts even greater demands upon midwives and maternity services generally.
"What is needed now is immediate action on the recruitment of additional midwifery staff. We do not need any more reports or reviews as best practice, in the form of midwife to birth ratio is now well accepted internationally and needs to be implemented here without delay."
(CD/IT)
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