Midwife quit over 'unsafe care' and staffing

A former midwife has told the BBC she quit because she could not live with herself if she provided poor care.

Hannah Williams says staff shortages meant she kept patients safe, but sometimes only "by the skin of her teeth".

BBC Verify analysis shows that the number of full-time equivalent midwife posts in England has gone up by 7% in the last decade. In comparison, the overall NHS workforce has increased by 34%.

The country has a shortage of about 2,500 midwives, and maternity units are struggling with safety concerns.

BBC research has also found that some trusts have more than one in five midwife jobs unfilled.

The Royal College of Midwives says staffing is the "most important issue" and the gap needs to close.

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Source: BBC News, 9 January 2024