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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

aibu to think midwives should not strike.

89 replies

ninjasuperted · 13/10/2014 12:23

I totally understand that they have a point, and i don't blame them, but would they not have more LEGAL clout if they just stuck to their contracted hours, and didn't do unpaid overtime.

surely that way the nhs bosses would notice that more midwives were needed?

OP posts:
Pootles2010 · 13/10/2014 12:25

I imagine a lot of them do unpaid overtime because they know women will be left alone in childbirth if they don't?

Happy to be corrected - I am not a nurse or midwife!

sleepyhead · 13/10/2014 12:26

Not doing unpaid overtime would be more disruptive by a magnitude of hundreds.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 13/10/2014 12:30

'You're fully dilated, I can see baby's head! But as its a minute past 8 I have to go now, good luck with it all, someone else will be along shortly.'

Yeah, that'd be better.

Caboodle · 13/10/2014 12:30

YABVU
Don't like it - vote for a party that treats them like humans. Bosses know more are needed; what difference has that made so far?
No - I'm not a nurse.

GilesGirl · 13/10/2014 12:30

So they should just leave if their hours are over and a woman's baby hasn't come yet?

Yeah. That's a great idea.

SauvignonBlanche · 13/10/2014 12:30

YABU, no one does unpaid overtime for fun.

Original poster
ninjasuperted · 13/10/2014 12:31

It would be totally disruptive i agree , and maybe push their point to the bosses and the government even more.

the government are taking advantage of the midwives good nature and conscience, to their financial gain.

OP posts:
EBearhug · 13/10/2014 12:31

I thought it was a 4 hour strike then work to rule for the rest of the week.

billyokey · 13/10/2014 12:31

YABU

Lezprechaun · 13/10/2014 12:33

YABU!

No one wants to strike they have no choice because they are being treated appallingly by the government and enough is enough.

sleepyhead · 13/10/2014 12:33

With both my births I very selfishly was in established labour across the shift change.

Both midwives stayed with me until the dcs were born and no doubt had paperwork to complete before they could go home after seeing me safely delivered, stitched and sitting with new ds and a cup of tea.

I thank them from the bottom of my heart for those unpaid hours.

Vitalstatistix · 13/10/2014 12:34

Do you not think that all the overtime being done tells the bosses that more midwives are needed? They know about the overtime. They know the situation.

While the midwives are doing the overtime, the bosses can turn a blind eye.

If the midwives stopped doing overtime, it would leave huge gaps in provision which would leave people in danger.

for example, when I was having my first, it was an emergency situation. Shoulder Dystocia. He was wedged solid and the emergency sirens were sounded. A team of people ran into the room to save him. Eventually he was freed and resuscitated. He has Erbs Palsy but he is alive. I haemorrhaged.

Had the staff left bang on time, regardless whether there was cover, as you suggest, my son and I would be dead now.

A planned strike, organised in such a way as to pass a message but ensure that critical services are not affected is by far the better option.

BaffledSomeMore · 13/10/2014 12:36

LEGAL? Are you implying their strike isn't legal?

Working to rule might seem more effective but women and babies would die in the inevitable lag between reduction in service and the recruitment of sufficient trained midwives. It could be months.
This way they have a short well publicised withdrawal of non delivery services that the management can plan for. No dead patients.

Lilybensmum1 · 13/10/2014 12:37

As a nurse I support the strikes, and as I'm sure is the same for midwives you cannot work to rule or patients are at risk,it's not like an office job where you can just down tools and leave, also we are legally bound so if leaving on time leaves a patient at risk we are liable to loose our job and the people that matter know this,, hence the unpaid overtime. I never leave a shift ontime healthcare is emotive so action that causes the most notice is what is needed.

If the MPs spent a few shifts working with nurses and midwives they would see the physical pressures of the job but, you know what they won't because if they do they will soon see we hold the healthcare service together, they will not accept what our job entails because if they do they would have to aknowledge how bad things really are and how much work is expected.

On a shift I can be responsible for between 9-15 patients tell me how can I provide effective care? Honestley I don't think its about the money we need more staff but as the health secretary said this am if , we all get the 1% payrise we would need to loose 4,000 nurses this year and more next year. There are not enough nurses anyway talk about emotional blackmail, so now we have to fear for our jobs! I was lucky as I'm top band I got the 1% payrise as I do not get increments and it was for the princely sum if £9 before tax! also it's non consolidated so it means it will not be counted towards my pension or my unsocial payments oh and it's only until the end if the year. Sorry to waffle.

KenAdams · 13/10/2014 12:38

Oh yes, what's a few maternal and infantile deaths when it helps midwives get their point across? Would you volunteer to be left alone at 8cm dilated?

YABVVVU.

KenAdams · 13/10/2014 12:38

For any midwives reading this, I fully support your strike action.

IsabellaofFrance · 13/10/2014 12:43

There was an article in our local paper the other day abut a midwife who had gone as her shift had finished, leaving a mother in distress. Mother and baby both died.

Is this what you would prefer? I net 99.99% of midwives dont want this either.

Original poster
ninjasuperted · 13/10/2014 12:43

I see all your points, and agree that midwives and the services they provide are probably the most important anywhere .

and im not saying for ever. But surely a week or 2 of no unpaid overtime would make the point. There should be enough staff there to deal with emergency's within that time?

would the less important parts of the role suffer? And not the emergency sections?

OP posts:
MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 13/10/2014 12:46

Hello - sorry to butt in. Just wanted to let you know that Cathy Warwick from the Royal College of Midwives is doing a webchat about the strike at 1pm today (ie in 15 minutes) if you'd like to shuffle over to that thread and ask her anything!

Vitalstatistix · 13/10/2014 12:47

a week or two of people being put at actual risk?

And if there were enough staff to deal with emergencies then how does that make a point any better than a planned strike?

Women cannot be left in fear and uncertainty.

Would you want to give birth during those two weeks where there 'should' be enough staff there to deal with an emergency?

PicnicGatecrasher · 13/10/2014 12:49

The people striking should have pay that reflects inflation. Its not much to ask. Tories don't give a hoot. Midwives have every ounce of my 100% support.

In my house sharing days I lived with a dear friend who was an ICU nurse at the time. I remember her doing extra shifts so she could save up for something. I remember a conversation where I was saying how lucky she was to be able to earn extra money, she said wasn't I lucky in that I didn't have to!! Never forgotten it.

Vital you've made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

GilesGirl · 13/10/2014 12:55

Define which part of a midwife's role is less important than any other.

I am beginning to think you have no idea what midwives actually do.

houseofstark · 13/10/2014 13:00

YABU

KittyandTeal · 13/10/2014 13:02

They are working to rule for the next 4 days.

I say good for them, totally support them. A 1% pay rise is not exactly asking much, especially considering the job they do.

I'm not exactly sure how likely a true work to rule is. It will be very difficult to leave labouring women so they can take their break or leave on time (and you know they won't)

However, delaying pregnant women's appointments so they can have their breaks and lunch (or even the luxury if having a wee!) I'm all for!

However, I say this as a teacher so I have some understanding of no wee breaks, breaks or lunchtime. Although my job doesn't have at least 2 lives depending on me getting it right!

Vitalstatistix · 13/10/2014 13:03

It was a terrifying experience, that's for sure, Picnic.

But you know what is really scary? How easy I was having it right up to the moment he jammed.

Puffing away happily on the gas and air. Off my face Wink excited. My husband holding my hand. Everything perfectly normal.

Not an emergency in sight.

Then - WHAM - my baby is stuck and going to die unless trained professionals save him RIGHT NOW

You cannot predict an emergency and you cannot reduce services and hope there will be staff to deal with an emergency and that 'the bosses' act and agree to hire more people and that those people are trained and hired before someone happens to have an emergency at a time when the staff have left and the other midwife still on duty is dealing with someone else's emergency

There was another shoulder dystocia on the day my son was born. Imagine the midwife having to choose which baby to save.