Healthcare leaders warn maternity services facing extreme burnout over longer, busier shifts and staff shortages

Healthcare leaders have warned that maternity staff are facing extreme burnout during the pandemic, as longer, busier shift patterns and staff shortages lead to the workforce becoming increasingly overwhelmed.

Senior staff members working in pregnancy services have warned that healthcare professionals are working longer hours, covering additional shifts around the clock, and spending more time on call to compensate for rising numbers of employees taking time off work after contracting coronavirus.

Staff say stress-related absences have reached “worryingly” high levels, with midwives and junior doctors “thrown into the deep end” having to fill in for colleagues.

Recent research by the Royal College of Midwives warned that the safety of maternity services is under “serious threat” – with eight in ten midwives reporting their NHS trust or board does not have enough staff to provide safe provision. Four in ten say half of shifts are understaffed and seven in ten have considered leaving the profession.

The RCM’s executive director for services to members Suzanne Tyler, said “Sickness absence due to stress and burnout has reached worryingly high levels in the profession and this has been further worsened by absences due to Covid-19 and for those left behind staffing already understaffed services the pressure is immense.

“A survey undertaken by the RCM showed that midwives are often unable to find the time to even go to the toilet on long, demanding shifts, working unpaid overtime, and this happens day after day. This is simply unacceptable.”

An NHS spokesperson said “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, NHS staff worked tirelessly to ensure thousands of babies were born safely over the past year.

“Pressure on all staff has been intense and the pandemic has reinforced that we will need to ensure a resilient NHS workforce in the future, which is why the NHS has put a package of dedicated help and advice into place, including a confidential mental health and wellbeing advice line and 24/7 text support, backed by £15 million in investment.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382.