March With Midwives London: Protestors marched for better pay and staffing
"We're severely under-staffed and under-resourced in our hospitals. We are working to our absolute limit"
Protestors gathered at Parliament square this afternoon (Sun 20 Nov) to call for action on the maternity services crisis.
This was part of a wider movement led by "March With Midwives UK" - A campaign group standing in solidarity with midwives and healthcare professionals.
Since records began in 2009, the number of NHS midwives has fallen in England year on year leaving an overworked and under-resourced workforce, putting women and birthing people in danger.
Last year, 16,000 Midwives and supporters marched to show their concerns about the dangerously low staffing levels.
The campaign group have said that since then, demands have not been met and midwives' working conditions and pay are now declared as a state of emergency.
The demonstration today took place across several regions the UK.
One Midwife said: "The marches are to raise awareness that the government, in real terms, has given us a pay cut. They said it was a one percent pay rise but in difference we've lost about ÂŁ6,000 a year now.
"We're severely under-staffed and under-resourced in our hospitals. We are working to our absolute limit especially after the Covid pandemic.
"We've got women and mothers who are burnt out, staff are completely burnt out and we just can't take it anymore, we can't afford to live.
"I'm a community Midwife, I drive for my job to get to women's houses and the cost of fuel has increased, I'm taking extra shifts just to cover our on-calls because we run the home birth service."
Many student Midwives attended the march, they all had similar concerns for their future.
One student said: "I've just been out on placement and a birthing centre and It's such an amazing place ran by Midwives but they often have to shut because there's just not enough staff to keep it open.
"We want people to be aware of what we do and how much help we need"
Another Student Midwife said: " I think a lot of people don't know what goes on because Midwives walk in a room and they still have smiles on their faces. They carry on as if everything is normal but behind the scenes, It's not and they're really struggling.
"I'm afraid to be stepping into the Midwives sector because on placement, we see the stress, so it's a little bit daunting to be walking straight into that. But, It's not stopping us and hopefully we can make a change.
"Something needs to change. I want to be a part of it because I'm going to be a Midwife."
Earlier today, the Health Secretary announced that he is in talks with unions regarding the pay of NHS staff