A year on from the first ‘March With Midwives’ when 16,000 people protested across the UK, Midwives are again calling on government to address a state of emergency in maternity services.

 

Maternity services across the UK are in a state of emergency. Since records began in 2009, the number of NHS midwives has fallen in England year on year leaving an overworked and under-resourced workforce, putting women and birthing people in danger.

A year after the 2021 March With Midwives, in which 16,000 midwives and supporters took to the streets to show their concerns about the dangerously low staffing levels, demands have not been met and midwives’ working conditions and pay are now declared as a state of emergency. 

What: March With Midwives national demonstrations in solidarity with midwives and healthcare professionals and families

When: Sunday 20th November 2022, 2pm

Where: Bangor War Memorial

Who: Supportive parents, lay-people, doulas, midwives and health care professionals.

On July 25th 2022, the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s Expert Panel declared there is “no credible government strategy to tackle the situation” in maternity care.

As healthcare professionals and public sector workers across the country prepare to strike, members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) are set to receive their ballot papers (11 November) in advance of proposed industrial action over pay.

This week the latest MBBRACE report reveals that maternal death rates are rising in the UK. Up to 30% of all mothers rate their birth as traumatic and similar percentages showed some symptoms commensurate with PTSD.

The March with Midwives’ campaign is a grassroots collective of doulas, midwives and parents. After yet another year of unprecedented pressure on maternity services, we prepare to demonstrate again because it is no longer difficult to imagine a UK without a functioning maternity care system.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) states: “Not a day goes by that we don’t hear of a maternity service having to close temporarily, suspend services or divert women to other maternity units just because there simply aren’t enough midwives. This can’t continue because we know it compromises safety and means women don’t always get the safe positive pregnancy and birth experience that they should.

“It is clear that maternity services in the UK are in crisis, giving birth in the UK; a high-income country, is becoming critically unsafe. This is unacceptable. Where we have women, birthing people and babies at risk; their families, communities and countries become sick. This is a genuine national emergency which impacts every level of society.

“We call on the UK government to implement urgent crisis management and resources. Government promises are not being kept and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Maternity must take responsibility for their silence and call for immediate action.”