It means that newer midwives like me are left dealing with things we’re not necessarily comfortable with. So many shift gaps are filled by bank or agency staff who don’t know the systems and don’t have time to help you. On a busy labour ward, it can be difficult to even know who to ask for help. No one has the time to offer guidance – you’re left having to take the risk and hoping you’ve done it right. It means you’re on your own when doing procedures, like breaking a woman’s waters, which take experience and confidence to do correctly. When everyone is busy, it means there’s no one to ask for help if you’re monitoring a high-risk woman and you’re concerned about the baby’s heart rate.
But for a newly qualified midwife – like I was a couple of years ago – a lack of staff also means a lack of support. Oten delays are caused by a lack of theatre beds, obstetricians or anaesthetists, who are stuck dealing with emergencies in A&E.
