Midwives missing meals and loo breaks to keep services running
By Midwives missing meals and loo breaks to keep services running on 20 August 2020 RCM NHS
Midwives are missing meals and delaying going to the toilet because they do not have enough time for breaks, according to a new survey from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
Midwives are also working additional unpaid hours, on top of long shifts, with more than one in five working at least five extra hours each week for no pay.
Commenting, Employment Relations Advisor at the RCM, Alice Sorby said:
“Midwives are putting their own health and wellbeing on the line to ensure that women and babies get the care they need – but it shouldn’t be either/or. The NHS should be doing all it can to promote staff retention and by support our members health in the workplace so they can deliver the very best care to women and their babies. The physical and mental health of midwives, maternity support workers and all NHS staff has never been more important, but sadly what the results of our member survey have revealed is there has been little improvement over the past four years. COVID-19 has undoubtedly increased the pressure on midwives, some of whom have been working additional hours unpaid just to keep maternity services open and running.”
During a typical working week, RCM members revealed:
- 87% delay going to the toilet because they don’t have enough time.
- 77% skip meals including over a quarter who do so always or most of the time.
- 52% feel dehydrated most or all of the time at work because they don’t have enough time to get a drink.
- 37% never or rarely take their entitled breaks.
The RCM says they are disappointed with the findings of this survey which show little improvement on the same survey that was undertaken as part of its Caring for You campaign in 2016.
Alice added:
“Our Caring for You campaign highlighted the impact of shortages and pressures on midwives and maternity support workers on their health and wellbeing, yet here we are, four years later, with little or no positive change. Too often maternity staff are working beyond their contracted hours, unable to take food breaks or even go to the loo. This is not healthy and it’s not sustainable - and inevitably leads to burnout NHS employers need to do more to ensure midwives are taking adequate rest breaks and not working additional hours, risking burnout. We must break this vicious cycle by investing in staff in areas where there are shortages.”
ENDS
To contact the RCM media office call 020 7312 3456 or email media@rcm.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
- Overtime survey 2020 with 2016 Caring for You comparisons (England only survey)
In 2020 their where 980 responses, the regions with the biggest response rates were, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, South East and South West.
Typical working week survey findings:
2020 Survey
- 52% feel dehydrated most or all of the time at work because they don’t have enough time to drink.
- 87% delay using the toilet because they don’t have enough time.
- 77% skip meals including over a quarter who do so always or most of the time.
- 37% never or rarely take their entitled breaks.
- Half of the MSWs and midwives who responded eat their meals whilst working always or most of the time.
- Caring for You survey typical working week findings
- 94% delayed using the toilet because they did not have enough time.
- 48% never or rarely took their entitled breaks.
- 88% skipped meals including 44% who did so always or most of the time.
- Over half (54%) ate their meals whilst working most or all of the time.
- 62% felt dehydrated most or all of the time at work because they didn’t have enough time to drink.
2. NHS must act to break burnout cycle says RCM
3. RCM’s Caring for you Campaign
https://www.rcm.org.uk/supporting/getting-help/caring-for-you/
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance, and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.