Midwives
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress her Department has made in improving the recruitment and retention of midwives in the NHS under the Long Term Workforce Plan, including (a) changes in midwifery training places, (b) attrition rates during training and early career practice, and (c) the steps being taken to address staffing shortages in maternity services.
Answered by Karin Smyth
The 10-Year Health Plan sets the Government vision for building a health service fit for the future, and we are committed to publishing a new 10-Year Workforce Plan to ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.
The NHS has taken urgent action to improve the retention and recruitment of midwives, including growing the midwifery workforce through funding a shortened midwifery programme for United Kingdom registered adult nurses and the introduction of midwifery degree apprenticeships.
Further steps have been taken to reduce attrition during midwifery training, including improving the learning environment and student support, as set out in the Safe Learning Environment Charter, published in 2024 and available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/safe-learning-environment-charter/
NHS England action to improve midwife retention includes: a midwifery and nursing retention self-assessment tool; mentoring schemes; strengthened advice and support on pensions and flexible retirement options; and the publication of menopause policies and guidance. There are also unit-based retention leads who provide pastoral support to midwives.
The annual rate of midwives leaving active service in the NHS in the year to March 2026 was 9.6%, which is lower than the annual rate in the year to March 2023 of 11.4%.
We now have a record number of midwives in NHS trusts. As of March 2026, there are 25,638 full time equivalent midwives working in NHS trusts and other core organisations in England. This is an increase of 649, or 2.6%, compared to March 2025. NHS England is actively monitoring future nursing and midwifery student numbers and will continue to assess the efficacy of the 2025/26 Graduate Guarantee as a mechanism.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →