driving license to become a midwife?

[DaniJade1990]

Hi all, just need a little advice. I'm hoping to do an access course at college to get into midwifery but I'm a little worried as to whether you have to have a driving license to become one! Googled it but not much help! Anyone know whether I would need one as I don't have one and I'm a single Mum living on benefits at the moment so it would be quite tough for me to get one until I'd qualified!

You don't need a licence to be a midwife. But you need to think when you're training can you get to uni and the hospital without a car? Will you definetly be placed at your local hospital - you're not always, depends on which uni it is. Plus where will your community placements be - your community midwife will have a car and drive you about but you may beed to get to a surgery/clinic to meet her.

Ring your local uni up and ask them where your placements would be.

I have a friend who is a midwife and has been for the last 12 years. She doesn't have a driving licence despite the best efforts of friends over the years. She is mainly hospital based so I don't think it is much of a problem for her but each hospital / situation will be different. I guess it would obviously be an advantage but not essential (at least to begin with)

I guess it might be an issue when it comes to applying for jobs. To be a community midwife or attend home births you would need a driving licence. I am guessing that these days most NHS trusts would want flexibility so those who can drive would be at a distince advantage.