Midwives to go on strike across Wales
The Royal College of Midwives warns of a 'growing crisis' in Welsh maternity services.
Midwives are to go on strike in Wales amid claims of a 'growing crisis' in Welsh maternity services.
Midwife and maternity support worker members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) working in the NHS in Wales will take strike action from 8am to 4pm on 7 February.
They will also be taking industrial action short of a strike by claiming payment for any overtime worked in the week following strike action.
An RCM survey of its Welsh workplace branches in December showed that just over half (50.5%) of midwives felt they were unable to take breaks during their working day.
The RCM said the safety of women will be the prime concern during any industrial action.
It said that there will be midwives and MSWs working on maternity units to ensure women – such as those in labour or needing emergency care – receive the care they need. Cover will be like that on a bank holiday.
Julie Richards, the RCM’s Director for Wales, said: “There is a growing crisis in Welsh maternity services. We are losing midwives because they simply cannot sustain the incredible effort they are having to make to ensure services are safe.
"They have also seen a decade and more of pay freezes and pay stagnation watching their pay packets significantly shrink with real terms pay cuts.
"To offer them a pay deal well below half of the rate of inflation is simply an insult that does a massive disservice to our maternity staff.
“Our members have made the decision to take industrial action after a great deal of thought and very reluctantly because their first concern is for the women, babies, and families they care for.
"However, they have been corralled into a dead end by Government and see no other option than take a stand for what they know is right for them, and most importantly for women.”