{"id":1042666,"date":"2026-06-22T11:01:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1042666\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:01:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:01:15","slug":"londons-nhs-midwife-numbers-reach-record-high-after-major-recruitment-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1042666\/","title":{"rendered":"London\u2019s NHS midwife numbers reach record high after major recruitment drive"},"content":{"rendered":"

The number of midwives working in London hospitals has reached a record high after maternity services added almost 600 staff in just two years, according to the latest NHS workforce figures<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are now 4,826 full-time equivalent midwives working across London maternity units \u2013 the highest number ever recorded, data published by NHS England last month shows.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This represents an increase of more than 14% from a recent low of 4,233 in March 2023.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Source: NHS England <\/a><\/p>\n

The growth marks a significant recovery for maternity services that faced severe staffing pressures in the years following the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

One London-based NHS midwife said: \u201cThere were shifts where we were constantly firefighting and rarely even had time for a break.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone was doing their best, but there simply weren\u2019t enough people on the ward, so you\u2019d finish exhausted and still feel like you hadn\u2019t been able to give every woman the time and support she deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

London\u2019s progress is particularly notable given that, while England\u2019s overall midwifery workforce grew by almost 2% between 2020 and 2023, the capitals shrank.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During that period, London lost more than 60 midwifery posts overall, leaving hospitals struggling to meet demand and placing increasing pressure on existing staff.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Source: NHS England <\/a><\/p>\n

The decline coincided with the period examined by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)<\/a> in its national review of maternity services.<\/a><\/p>\n

Inspectors visiting units across England between 2022 and 2024 found that staffing shortages were frequently affecting the ability of services to provide consistently safe care.<\/p>\n

In its report, the CQC warned: \u201cAs the demand for maternity services continues to increase, the staffing levels need to keep pace with the changes to keep women and babies safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot having enough staff affects the quality-of-care staff are able to provide and puts women at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similar concerns were highlighted by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM)<\/a>, whose 2024 survey found midwives across England were collectively working around 100,000 hours of unpaid overtime<\/a> every week to help keep services running safely.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Almost nine in ten respondents (87%) said their maternity unit had not been staffed safely during the week they completed the survey \u2013 in London, 78% reported facing unrealistic workloads.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Source: Royal College of Midwives <\/a><\/p>\n

An NHS spokesperson said: \u201cSince the Care Quality Commission\u2019s 2024 review, there has been a clear, system-wide commitment to improving staffing, retention, and leadership, and early signs suggest these efforts are begin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The recent increase in workforce numbers follows the implementation of NHS England\u2019s Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services<\/a>, which aims to improve recruitment, retention and staffing levels across the country.<\/p>\n

The strategy includes commitments to improve maternity workforce fill rates by 2027\/28 and introduce local retention plans by 2023\/24, designed to improve job satisfaction and keep experienced staff in the profession.<\/p>\n

In London, targeted investment has also supported the creation of additional preceptorship midwife posts<\/a> and dedicated Practice Development Midwives<\/a> at every maternity site across the capital.<\/p>\n

Data on maternity outcomes<\/a> suggests staffing improvements may also be benefiting mothers and babies.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Source: NHS England <\/a><\/p>\n

Breastfeeding initiation rates for a baby\u2019s first feed across London fell by more than 11% between 2020 and 2024, broadly mirroring the period of workforce decline.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since staffing levels began to recover, the rate has risen again to 87% \u2013 almost 13 percentage points above the national average.<\/p>\n

Rates of immediate skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborn babies, widely recognised as important for bonding, breastfeeding and infant health, also declined during the period of workforce shortages before recovering in recent years.<\/p>\n

A London NHS midwife said: \u201cOur job is about much more than delivering babies \u2013 it\u2019s about supporting women through pregnancy, labour and those first crucial days afterwards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we have enough staff to keep up with the demand it means we\u2019re able to build those relationships and provide the kind of personalised care that families remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

For expectant parents across the capital, the latest figures offer encouraging signs that maternity services are moving in the right direction after years of pressure.<\/p>\n

An NHS spokesperson said: \u201cWhile we know there is more to do, we are committed to building on this momentum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are focused on sustaining these gains, reducing variation in outcomes, and ensuring every woman and family receives the high-quality, equitable care they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

With more midwives than ever working across London\u2019s maternity units, hospitals now have a stronger foundation to provide safer care and better support throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.<\/p>\n

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