Greens will recruit more midwives
The Scottish Greens have pledged action to make maternity care safer for women, babies and staff, with plans to introduce earn-as-you-learn routes to bring more people into the profession and ensuring that those who want to train are not put off by financial barriers.
This is part of a range of measures that will also include minimum safe staffing levels on all maternity and labour wards.
The Scottish Greens say the changes are needed to ease pressure on overstretched maternity services and ensure women and families get the safe, high-quality care they deserve throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said:
“Too many women and families are being let down by a maternity system that is under enormous strain while midwives are being asked to do more and more in overstretched services. That is not fair on them or on the people relying on their care.
“For far too long, staff have been carrying the burden of workforce shortages, rising pressure and a system that is too often stretched beyond safe limits. That has real consequences for the quality of care, for staff wellbeing and for the confidence families should be able to have in maternity services.
“Dignity, safety and making sure every family gets the care they deserve at one of the most important moments in their lives is crucial. Women should know that when they need care, the right staff will be there, with the time and capacity to support them properly.
“That is why the Scottish Greens are committed to introducing minimum safe staffing levels on all maternity and labour wards and expanding the midwife workforce by creating accessible earn-as-you-learn routes into midwifery.
“Because, if we are serious about fixing the staffing crisis, we need to remove the barriers that prevent more people from taking up training in the profession in the first place.
“On 7 May, people have a chance to vote for the Scottish Greens who will demand better for women’s health, better for maternity care and better for the staff who keep these services going.”
