Midwifery needs 'ring-fenced' funding- says Norfolk students
It's as many protested in Norwich recently- over issues around funding, training and future employment.
Student midwives in Norwich tell us the sector needs 'ring-fenced' funding to survive and grow.
It's as many protested in Norwich recently- over issues around funding, training and future employment.
Fund Future Midwives UK says it's a grassroots campaign that's fighting for fair bursaries, funded tuition and job opportunities for student midwives, and debt forgiveness for midwives who qualified after 2017.
The group says it's aim is to transform their training and working conditions in Norfolk and beyond.
Industry experts say student midwives are currently required to complete a minimum of 2,300 clinical practice hours throughout their degree while also paying full university tuition fees.
Unlike many healthcare training routes, these hours are unpaid, despite students working alongside qualified staff and providing essential care within maternity services.
"You've got quite a big pool of student midwives so will soon be unemployed"
Emily and Kerrie trains locally and work with Fund Future Midwives UK:
"There's an estimated two and a half thousand deficit of midwives and currently there's no jobs for those who were graduating this year, there weren't any for those who graduated last year either.
"So as stands, you've got quite a big pool of student midwives so will soon be unemployed.
"It's such a disappointing situation. We work so hard and do over two thousand three hundred clinical hours- which is all unpaid.
"We pay our tuition fees, so that will have interest added onto when we leave. We also work unsocial-able hours and often work the likes of bank holidays, weekends and night-shifts.
"We know how important midwifery care is and that it improves outcomes for both babies and women.
"It could have such an impact in the future and prevent so many problems. Therefore if we had this protected support- it would improve things so much in the long-term".
What have ministers said on this?
The Government says it's putting in place a multi-year strategy focussed on retention and improving working conditions.