title: Are staffing shortages changing the culture of midwifery?
abstract: The effects of budgetary changes on midwives' practice environment have raised concerns in many settings. A survey of midwives and student midwives in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2014 produced 280 responses. Staffing shortages were regarded as underpinning many changes, one of which was that of previously optional 'extra' activities, such as unpaid overtime, becoming mandatory. Shortages were aggravated in less acute areas by the transfer of midwives to more acute settings. One of the fears expressed by midwives was that a permanent change in the culture of midwifery would result. These phenomena are the everyday experiences of practising midwives, but they have failed to be addressed in the documents published by regulatory and review bodies.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mander
authors.forename: Nessa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murphy-Lawless
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D002017:Budgets; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000191:economics; D008880:Midwifery / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce