Midwife worries over staffing levels at Arrowe Park Hospital after departure of temporary staff

Feb 10 2010 by Liza Williams, Birkenhead News

Arrowe Park hospital

ARROWE Park Hospital is cutting the number of midwives it employs – despite investing more than £11m in a new women and children’s wing.

Nine midwives on temporary contracts at Arrowe Park will leave the hospital at the end of March.

The trust says the workers were only ever employed on a short term basis, as a way to provide experience until the end of their training period.

But one midwife says she doesn’t know how the remaining staff will cope without the extra workers.

She said: “We were told that due to financial efficiencies they can’t offer us a permanent or longer term contract.

“I feel for the other midwives left as it is just so busy.

“We were all rushed off our feet as it was, so I don’t know how it will be with nine less staff.

“It costs the NHS £45,000 to train a midwife, but then we finish and there are no jobs, it is just such a waste.