Honiton midwives take part in March for Midwives to highlight crisis in maternity services

Midwives from Honiton have taken part in a protest in Exeter, organised by grassroots movement March for Midwives.

Marches were also held in Truro, Torquay, Barnstable and across the UK.

The aim of the vigil was to raise public awareness of the growing maternity crisis and try to force the government to act.

The group held up placards and asked passers-by to sign their petition to support government investment into maternity services to solve the staffing crisis.

Approximately sixty people attended the march in Exeter. Those in attendance included midwives, doulas, health professionals, parents, members of the Devon Maternity Voices Partnership and pregnant women.

In July 2021, The Quality Care Commission found that 41% of maternity units in the UK were either "requires improvement" or "inadequate."

The Royal Devon and Exeter was classed as 'good' overall, although it only scored adequate for safety.

The Royal College of Midwives estimates the UK is short of approximately 3,500 midwives, which is leaving wards and communities chronically understaffed.

A survey conducted by the college found that 60% of UK midwives are considering leaving the profession and 80% of those planning to leave cited inadequate staffing levels as a contributing factor.

Consequently, 67% of surveyed midwives said they were unhappy with the quality and safety of care they are currently able to deliver.

One Honiton midwife (who would rather not be named) has been a midwife in the Honiton and Exeter area for almost a decade.

Her experiences reflect the situation nationally: "Every team, unit, trust provision across the country has experienced some or many of the problems.

"Midwives are stretched to their capacity, which sadly leaves many with burnout, depression, anxiety of not getting a break or time to go to the toilet.

"Everyone provides the care to the best standard they can, but everyone knows if you don't have time to eat or drink and rest, it takes its toll on the functionality of the mind and body.

"Many experienced midwives with years of knowledge and skills are leaving the service, but the numbers being trained or retained are not sufficient."

Rebecca Bates is aged 25 and from Honiton. She received excellent care during her pregnancy but added: "My care the weeks after the birth hasn't been quite so great due to staff shortages and their workload.

"I was seen on day 5 and then not again until 3 weeks after." According to the NHS, all new babies should be seen by a health visitor between one and two weeks.

Vicki Redford, also 25 and from Honiton, agrees that the care she received in Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in September 2021 was excellent: "My midwife was absolutely amazing for both my children (same one) and was there whenever I needed her, day or night."

However, she added: "I know the midwife who delivered my son didn't have a break her whole shift."

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Midwives do an incredibly important job and we know how challenging it has been for those working during the pandemic.

"There are more midwives working in the NHS now than at any other time in its history and we are aiming to hire 1,200 more with a £95m recruitment drive."

You can find more information on this issue here and you can sign the petition here