‘It breaks my heart’: MP joins hundreds in protest for greater NHS midwife support

Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy joined hundreds of people who gathered outside Parliament to highlight a crisis in NHS midwifery and maternity services. 

She joined midwives, doulas, other healthcare professionals and parents on Sunday, where she echoed demands for the Government to tackle chronic staffing shortages and under-resourcing.  

Addressing the crowd, the MP said: “Every single person here owes their lives to a midwife or loves somebody who does. When I hear about some of the things that you have to go through, it breaks my heart. 

“I want to make sure that the message that is sent to my colleagues in Parliament is loud and clear: that midwives will not be treated like this anymore. 

“If you have to strike and do it, I’ll come and stand on your picket lines.” 

According to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the service faces staff shortages of more than 3,500 midwives across the UK and in July, the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s Expert Panel declared there was “no credible government strategy to tackle the situation” in maternity care.   

It also said that for every 30 midwives that trained to enter the profession, 29 are leaving or never enter the workforce, while 60 per cent of midwives surveyed last year were considering quitting their jobs.  

The Royal College of Midwives will be balloting in Scotland, England and Wales on industrial action this autumn.  

Pictured top and insert: Bell Ribeiro-Addy addresses the crowds gathered outside Parliament (Picture: Streatham Labour Office)