Midwife students facing employment crisis
- Published: 06 May 2008 15:08
- Author: Steve Ford
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 06 May 2008 15:08
- Reader Responses
More than 90% of final year midwifery students are struggling to find a job, according to latest survey findings.
The Royal College of Midwives survey of 170 students also showed that 58% of respondents were concerned about getting a job.
Additionally, the survey revealed that 81% said the move this year to degree-only training would have a negative financial impact on them, with 10% of respondents already saying they had debts of £7,000 to £9,000.
Alison Anderson, a final year student from Central Scotland, said: 'It seems extremely unlikely that I will be able to secure a permanent post on qualifying. I will be unable to consolidate the experience I have gained during my training, which is extremely disheartening.'
Sue Jacob, student services advisor for the RCM, added: 'We don't want student midwives to be used to fill gaps in staff shortages on wards. We need to find a way for student midwives to get employment as midwives.'
'This survey confirms what we have been saying for some time – that morale among student midwives is declining because of their accumulated debts and uncertainty about job prospects,' said RCM general secretary Dame Karlene Davis.
