RCM: “There should be red lights flashing about maternity services”

Claims safety of women, babies and staff is being ‘compromised’

Urgent action is needed to address issues facing the Island’s maternity services which are putting the safety and wellbeing of women, babies and staff at risk.

That’s the view of the Royal College of Midwives which has called for the development of a maternity strategy and a review of maternity services.

It claims ‘red lights’ should be flashing and has called on the Manx Government to start work ‘without delay’.

The RCM claims there is a ‘serious shortage’ of midwives on the Island  - with a third of midwives here approaching retirement age – and a lack of consultant midwives.

Karen Murray, the director for Northern Ireland and the lead for the Isle of Man, said: “Maternity Services on the Isle of Man need urgent strategic direction.

“There are serious holes in midwife numbers, in funding and in leadership. All this is crucial for safe care.

“Women on the Island do not have the choices of care they should and midwives are not being supported enough to do their jobs as well as they want to.

“Midwives are working incredibly hard to ensure women, babies, and their families get the safest and best possible care. However there are not enough of them."

“I know we are pushing at an open door with the Manx Government on this, but this does need their attention now.” - Karen Murray RCM

The RCM claims there is also a lack of specialist midwives to support women with mental health problems and no trained maternity support workers.

You can find the RCM's case for an Isle of Man maternity strategy HERE.

In response Manx Care says its committed to progressing a maternity strategy for the Island and is meeting with representatives from RCM this week.

In a statement it said: “We very much welcome the RCM’s visit and their insights for the Island and are working with them and the DHSC to drive standards in maternity care moving forward.

“Manx Care recognises and is grateful for the RCM’s support at a time when maternity services are facing significant workforce challenges both here on the Isle of Man and across the UK.

“When Manx Care came into existence, on 1 April 2021, it inherited a service with a number of long-standing vacancies and recruitment gaps - a position that has been incredibly difficult to address as a result of there being a significant shortage of midwives in the UK.

“Manx Care is exploring all options to increase midwife recruitment and pre-registration training.”