LISTEN: More than half of midwives do not feel safe carrying out home visits

By Peter Moor

More than half of midwives do not feel safe carrying out home visits, according to the main body representing midwives in the UK.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says it is concerned for its members’ safety following a survey which found that over half of midwives do not feel safe carrying out home visits.

99% of all those who felt unsafe cited fears of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, while almost half (46%) said it was because of a lack of appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE).

The results come ahead of the appearance of RCM Chief Executive before the House of Commons Health & Social Care Select Committee to discuss the NHS’s ability to provide key services during the pandemic.

Karen Murray, the Director of RCM in Northern Ireland has expressed concern over the results of the survey.

The survey also found that under a third of midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) who reported suffering symptoms of Coronavirus have been tested.

Of those who did receive a test appointment, more than 20 per cent had to travel over ten miles from their home to be tested. With healthcare workers advised to self-isolate if a member of their household has COVID-19 symptoms, there is a knock-on effect to the availability of staff.

In a tracking survey of maternity services carried out by the RCM, staff shortages continue to be double what they were before the pandemic.

Karen Murray said, "We were already already of issues in the maternity workforce before COVID-19, and these have only been exacerbated by the Coronavirus across Northern Ireland.

"On average, we would suggest there is approximately a 20% shortfall in midwives available for work throughout the province."