A senior midwife at a trust in England says chronic understaffing means problems can too easily be missed
“I’m very saddened but not at all shocked by what I’ve read of Donna Ockenden’s report. I’m sad about the treatment that the women received and that they were never listened to or had their complaints investigated properly. Unfortunately, though, I’m not surprised by any of it.
I feel like the same things that were revealed in Shrewsbury and Telford could be occurring in the majority of maternity units in the UK. I say that because we are chronically understaffed. Every time you come on shift you don’t have enough people to deliver a safe service. That understaffing is widespread across the NHS. And that lack of maternity staff is risky for mothers and babies.
