The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on the next UK government to cancel student debt for midwives who commit to working in the NHS.
The RCM says that, if politicians are serious about improving maternity care, they need to ensure there are strong foundations on which to build a midwifery profession which is fit for the future.
In particular, said the College, the next government must alleviate student debt and ensure that services are in a position to take on new graduates.
The College is calling on the next government to forgive student debt for those midwives who commit to work in the NHS. In every part of the UK, it says, midwifery students are being ‘weighed down by debt’.
The RCM says it has heard from students who are considering leaving their course because of the financial burden. The nature and structure of a midwifery degree doesn’t leave time for part-time or summer jobs, it says, which puts students at a financial disadvantage before they even qualify.
RCM Chief Executive Gill Walton warned that, unless this debt burden is addressed, there is a risk that midwifery will become less and less attractive, making the current workforce crisis even worse.
She said:
“If we want to build a midwifery profession that’s fit for the future we have to invest in our students. My genuine worry is that some of this generation of students won’t become midwives at all because the financial burden is just too great.
“Teaching, clinical placements and, increasingly, caring responsibilities leave no time for students to get part-time jobs. After years of hard work and training students should be rewarded for their dedication and commitment to their chosen profession.
“The next government needs to show a similar level of commitment and forgive student debt once a midwife has worked in the NHS for three years, matching their years of study.”
The RCM has said it is also hearing from increasing numbers of final year students who don’t have a job to go to once they qualify.
Gill added:
“Never before have newly qualified midwives students been so badly needed, yet incredibly not every student has a job to go to once they qualify. This is easily fixed by better co-ordination between the health and higher education sectors both locally and nationally, ensuring that vacancies are properly signposted and graduating students are supported to make these important decisions. This will ensure we have the right staff in the right places, and that we do not lose this generation of midwives from the profession.”
