A student midwife, who has completed 2,300 hours of unpaid placement work in the NHS, is advocating for guaranteed posts for newly qualified midwives. Aimee Peach, 43, is set to finish her training next summer, yet she claims that the promise of job security has “collapsed” despite the severe lack of midwives across the country. This situation is not only a waste of talent and training but also has significant implications for families who rely on these services.
Peach and other student midwives face an uncertain future after investing three years in rigorous training. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) reports that 8 out of 10 student midwives graduating this year lack confidence in securing employment post-graduation. This shortage of positions is due to funding cuts and recruitment freezes that hinder the ability of midwifery managers to hire new staff.
Peach, from Bridgwater, Somerset, has balanced academic study, on-the-job training, and childcare responsibilities while pursuing her midwifery degree. The qualification’s primary appeal for her was the promise of improving women’s experiences during pregnancy and childbirth, along with better career prospects and increased household income.
Despite the challenges, including unpaid 12-hour night shifts and long commutes that sometimes required sleeping in her car, Peach’s passion for midwifery has stayed strong. This month, she appealed to her MP, Ashley Fox, about the issue, highlighting only four vacancies for newly qualified midwives in England, despite an estimated national shortage of over 2,500 midwives.
Fiona Gibb, the RCM’s director of midwifery, emphasizes the need for sufficient midwives who are properly skilled and trained to ensure the safety of maternity services. She urges all four national UK governments to address workforce planning and halt recruitment freezes that prevent families from receiving necessary care.
In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the problem and announced plans to revise the workforce plan later this year. The goal is to ensure that the NHS has the right personnel with the necessary skills to deliver quality patient care.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/20/student-midwife-guaranteed-nhs-jobs-graduates
