Key facts
- 1,669 midwives aged 34 or under resigned from the NHS in England in 2025-26.
- This represents over half of all midwives who left the service.
- The number of young midwives quitting has increased by 59% since 2014-15.
- Nearly 24% of midwifery students do not complete their three-year degree.
- The Royal College of Midwives reports that 75% of midwives have considered leaving the profession recently.
A significant and growing number of midwives in England are leaving the National Health Service (NHS) before reaching the age of 35, primarily due to burnout, according to data revealed through parliamentary questions. This trend is exacerbating existing staffing shortages in maternity units, leading to concerns about the quality and safety of care provided to mothers and babies.
In the 2025-26 period, 1,669 midwives aged 34 or under resigned from the NHS, constituting over half of all midwife resignations. This figure is a 59% increase compared to the 1,051 young midwives who left in 2014-15. The intense pressures of maternity work, including increasing complexity and risks, are cited as reasons for this early career exodus. Of the younger leavers, 205 were under 25, 809 were between 30 and 34, and 655 were between 25 and 29.
Adding to the staffing crisis, nearly a quarter of midwifery students are dropping out before completing their three-year degree. In 2021, 3,565 students began midwifery degrees, but only 2,725 graduated in 2024, meaning 840 students did not finish their courses. This loss of experienced staff and graduating students underscores what the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) terms a "staffing emergency" in UK maternity care.
Recent surveys by the RCM indicate that three-quarters of midwives have considered leaving the profession in the past year, largely due to concerns about staffing levels and patient safety. Hannah Leonard, the RCM's deputy chief midwife, described the situation as "deeply worrying," highlighting that many midwives experience burnout within years of qualifying due to understaffing, missed breaks, and unpaid hours. Both major reviews of maternity care in England, led by Donna Ockenden and Valerie Amos, identified a lack of staff as a critical factor endangering patient safety.
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan criticized the government's approach, suggesting that focusing solely on new recruits who may also quit under pressure is insufficient. She called for a new strategy, including guaranteed year-round training and professional development, to help midwives manage increasing complexity and risk.
While approximately 10% of all midwives leave the NHS annually, the figures for specific age groups are higher: 14.6% of those aged 25-29 and 16.6% of those aged 30-34 left in 2025-26. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stated that the government has a record number of midwives in the workforce, with 25,500 full-time-equivalent midwives employed, an increase of 2,000 since July 2024. The DHSC also highlighted new NHS staff standards aimed at improving health and wellbeing, promoting flexible working, and addressing issues like abuse and racism, alongside pay rises and initiatives to retain student midwives.