Shortage of Midwives in UK: Reasons, Pressure Faced, and Ways to Reduce It

This research proposal focuses on the shortage of midwives in the UK, the reasons behind it, the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding, and ways to reduce it. The proposal includes a literature review that highlights the reasons behind the shortage of midwives, the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding, and ways to reduce it. The research methodology includes a survey strategy with primary data collection through a questionnaire. Ethical considerations will also be taken into account while conducting the research.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Research Topic.......................................................................................................................1
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................1
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................1
Research Hypothesis .............................................................................................................1
Research rationale..................................................................................................................1
Research background..............................................................................................................2
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................2
Reasons behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK.................................................2
Pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding.....................................3
Ways used for reducing pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding in
the United Kingdom...............................................................................................................4
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................5
Sampling..........................................................................................................................................6
Materials sample frame....................................................................................................................6
Ethical Considerations.....................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
Research Topic
Shortage of midwives in UK. How the midwife do there job with pressure, understanding,
underfunding
Research Aim
To identify the reasons behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK along with its impact
on their mental health
Research Objectives
 To identify the reasons behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK
 To determine the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding
 To evaluate the ways that could be used for reducing pressure faced by midwives due to
understaffing and underfunding in the United Kingdom
Research Hypothesis
H1: Underfunding and understaffing are biggest reasons behind increasing shortage of midwives
in the UK
H2: There is a negative impact of pressure on midwives due to understaffing and underfunding
H3: Recruitment and selection is an effective way that could be used for reducing pressure faced
by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding in the United Kingdom
Research rationale
I will conduct the research on the reasons behind increasing shortage of midwives in the
UK along with its impact on their mental health. The current research is important because it is
not only benefiting the midwives but also the investigator as well. This is because midwives can
refer to the current research and study in detail about the pressure faced by them due to
understaffing and underfunding and the ways they can adopt to reduce pressure due to
understaffing and underfunding in the United Kingdom. This can benefit them to work in a
relaxed manner while balancing their work and life. Moreover, I have used my existing skills and
knowledge in order to achieve the objectives such as wiring skills and communication skills
along with the analytical skills. Furthermore, I have also gained new skills while undertaking this
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research such as research skills and time management skills along with the cognitive skills and
problem solving behaviour.
Research background
Midwife is a person who is a health professional has the training in order to support and
provide a care for a women at the time of pregnancy and labour along with the birth time as well.
They assist the women to stay healthy during pregnancy so that any complication while birth can
be avoided. They also care about the new born baby and this is the specialization which is known
as the midwifery. According to the reports, it has been known that there are high shortage of
midwives due to which the existing midwives are facing pressure. Understaffing and
underfunding are the major reasons due to which the existing midwives are not able to gain
stability in their work due to the over work load on them (Cull, Hunter, Henley and Sidebotham,
2020). Therefore, the following discussion is based on the reasons behind increasing shortage of
midwives in the UK and pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding
along with the ways used for reducing pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and
underfunding in the United Kingdom.
Literature Review
Reasons behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK
According to Hunter, Fenwick, Sidebotham and Henley, (2019), underfunding is one of
the reason behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK. This is a because there is a lack of
funds with the organizations who supplies for the midwives. They are not able to pay them
sufficient salary and that is why most of them leave and it is difficult to find the new ones due to
the low pay and low scope in future. Moreover, there are no proper training given to the
midwives which results in the unsafe delivery care to women that leads to reputation damage to
the firm. Furthermore, funds plays an essential role in retaining the talented and skilled midwives
but if organization do not pay deserved salary then they looses the experienced and highly
talented staff which results in the huge shortages of employees as well. Therefore, underfunding
is considered as the major reason of declining in the number of midwives in UK.
According to Cooke, Hancock, White and Furber, (2021), understaffing is also one of the
reason behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK. This is because underfunding is the
reason due to which the understaffing became the reason of shortage of midwives. First of all,
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there is a less scope in this field which creates issue in growth and development of a person
which also restricts the salary as well. This is the reason that why there is less hiring of midwives
because low of number of people applies for this profile. Staffing generally pressures the
maternity services due to which the most of the women faces the problems in their delivery and
baby care. This also results in the different types of complications in women such as
miscarriages and pre mature baby or can be the unhealthy baby and can also cause to the death of
the women during birth if proper care is not given to them. Therefore, understaffing is
considered as one of the major reason of declining in the number of midwives in UK.
According to Eaves and Payne, (2019), challenging working conditions and barriers to
required training is also one of the reason behind increasing shortage of midwives in the UK.
This is because now a days hospitals do not have that much efficient working conditions for
nurses and midwives which becomes difficult for them to work in such challenging conditions
within the firm. This also results in the barriers to training as well. The reason being is that there
are not sufficiency of equipment and trainers who can assist in the training process to the
midwives. That is why there is a shortage of midwives. Therefore, challenging working
conditions and barriers to required training is also considered as the major reason of declining in
the number of midwives in UK.
Pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding
According to Sidhu, Su, Shapiro and Stoll, (2020), there are several types of pressures
which are faced by midwives because of he underfunding and understaffing challenges. Such as
working for long hours is one of the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and
underfunding. Midwives usually work for the long period of time during the entire day without
any relaxations that creates pressure on them. Heavy workload is an another pressure faced by
midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Midwives work for long hours without any
break automatically results in the heavy workload on them which creates pressure on them.
Insufficient skills for the job is also one of the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing
and underfunding. Midwives are not that much skilled and educated which leads to the high
pressure on them to first learn and then bring into practice in a practical manner. Over
supervision is also an another pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and
underfunding. Midwives are highly supervised from their mentors so that any mistakes can be
avoided but this generally created pressure on them to be fully supervised all the time.
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According to Patterson, Martin and Karatzias, (2019), inadequate working environment is
one of the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Due to the large
pressure, midwives experience negative working environment with insufficient leave and pay
that creates pressure on them. Lack of proper resources is an another pressure faced by midwives
due to understaffing and underfunding. Midwives are usually having less resources in order to
take care of the women which creates pressure on them at the time of work. Tight deadlines is
also one of the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. There are
generally time management issues faced by the midwives due to the strict deadlines which
creates pressure on them. Changes to duties is also an another pressure faced by midwives due to
understaffing and underfunding. There are many reason which treasure in the changes in duties
of midwives due to which they need to be prepared for the same that create pressure on them.
According to Catling and Rossiter, (2020), Job insecurity is one of the pressure faced by
midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Now a days due to the lack of funds, there is a
chances of job insecurity such that firm can lay off anytime. Lack of autonomy is an another
pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Midwives are not involved
in any type of decision making and they just pressurised in terms of work. Lack of knowledge is
also one of the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Unskilled
staff due top lack of training results in the low knowledge about the management of women who
are pregnant. Lack of control is also an another pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing
and underfunding. Midwives are not given any type of control and this pressurises them to work
under pressure which results in leaving of the job that leads to shortages of midwives.
Ways used for reducing pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding in
the United Kingdom
According to Taylor, Cross-Sudworth, Goodwin and MacArthur, (2019), there are several
ways used for reducing pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding in the
United Kingdom. Strategic hiring and recruitment is one of the way to reduce the pressure faced
by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Organizations must focus on the systematic
and skilled hiring of midwives so that the cost of training and development could be saved with
deserving pay as well. Making positive working environment is an another way to reduce the
pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. It is important for the firm to
provide relaxing environment to them so that they can be well satisfied with the job do not leave
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their profile. Rewards and recognition is also one of the way to reduce the pressure faced by
midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. It is significant for the firm to avail the offers
and benefits to the staff in order to reduce the shortage of midwives.
According to Vaičienė, Blaževičienė, Macijauskiene and Sidebotham, (2021),
encouraging open communication is one of the way to reduce the pressure faced by midwives
due to understaffing and underfunding. This helps midwives to specify their points of grievances
so that they can resolve accordingly that further helps in retention of midwives. Offering paid
time off is an another way to reduce the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and
underfunding. It is vital to avail the paid leave to the midwives so that they can relaxed for some
time and resume their work with fresh minds and proper abilities to work again. Strategic team
management is also one of the way to reduce the pressure faced by midwives due to
understaffing and underfunding. It is imperative for the firm to adopt the leadership and
management style among their workers so that team management can be effective and efficient
in nature. Considering flexible work schedules is also an another to reduce the pressure faced by
midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. It is crucial for the firm to provide flexibility in
working hours so that they can maintain their work life balances.
According to Bridle, Bassett and Silverio, (2021), sufficient pay to staff is one of the way
to reduce the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. It is necessary
to render deserving salary to midwives so that they can leave the job and must also provide the
frequent promotions as well. Providing proper training and development sessions is an another
way to reduce the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding. Midwives
must get the an appropriate educational sessions which not only must contain the professionalism
but also the personality development as well. Encouraging health benefits to the staff is also one
of the way to reduce the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding.
Midwives must be given health benefits so that at the time of emergency they can avail such
benefits, this motivates the midwife to work in a proper manner. Work life balance is also an
another way to reduce the pressure faced by midwives due to understaffing and underfunding.
Research Methodology
There are total six types of research methodologies which are undertaken by the
investigator in order to conduct the research in an appropriate and systematic manner. Research
philosophy is the first type which has further three forms such as positivism and Interpretivism
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along with the realism (Sürücü and MASLAKÇI, 2020). The current research will use the
positivism philosophy. Research approach is the second type which has further three forms such
as deductive and inductive along with the abduction. The current research will use the deductive
approach. Research choice is the third type which has further three forms such as mono method
and mixed method along with the multi method. The current research will use the mono method
approach with the help of quantitative form of data collection. Research strategy is the fourth
type which has further three forms such as case study and survey along with the experiment. The
current research will use the survey strategy with the help of questionnaire which will contain
close ended questions related with the topic. Research time horizon is the fifth type which has
further two forms such as cross sectional and longitudinal. The current research will use the cross
sectional time horizon. Research technique and procedure is the sixth type which has further two
forms such as primary and secondary. The current research will use both the types of data
collection (Bloomfield and Fisher, 2019). The reason behind choosing this methodology is such
that the data which is being analyse is based on the facts ad figures which is in the numeric form
having the real time observations using respondents and collecting opinions for proper findings
and results.
Sampling
Sampling is defined as the populations used while collecting the responses for the
questionnaire. There are two types of sampling such as probability random sampling and non
probability randomised sampling. The current research uses the probable random sampling
which will be having the exact number of participants and can be fill up the questionnaire in the
random manner (Berndt, 2020).
Materials sample frame
The number of participants chosen are the 50 who will fill up the questionnaire associated
with the current research topic. The respondents will be itself the midwives who are currently
working and also who left for some or the other reasons. The reason behind choosing this
because no one can actually render the honest opinions as compare to the midwives.
Ethical Considerations
The current research will follow some of the ethical considerations which are essential
for the investigation. Such as research has followed up the informed consent rules which helps in
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respecting the confidentiality and privacy of the participants. Moreover, voluntary participation
and anonymity along with the results communication and openness and also the integrity are also
taken care of while considering the proper ethics in the current investigation.
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References
Books and Journals
Berndt, A.E., 2020. Sampling methods. Journal of Human Lactation, 36(2), pp.224-226.
Bloomfield, J. and Fisher, M.J., 2019. Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian
Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), pp.27-30.
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exploration of the experiences of UK midwives when navigating women’s care without
language. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare.
Catling, C. and Rossiter, C., 2020. Midwifery workplace culture in Australia: A national survey
of midwives. Women and Birth, 33(5), pp.464-472.
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