Snoopy: Nothing to do with the NHS... it's policies again. A reform of government is needed as in most governments to stop people who realistically know nothing (as with private industry bosses setting company policy) making decisions. And now.. they are having to recruit that which has been known for many years...

... staff.

Cost cutting I've seen in essential areas can mess up any organisation. I've seen at least one org struggle to keep to it's promises (as in contractual obligation) due to not having enough staff and in due course damage their customer base.

At the same time, the increase in population through influxes into this country was not properly estimated (or not publicly) to save face... politics or a bad call??

Also, it seems not as many are going naturally into the midwife profession. Despite there being plenty of room for new midwives, the recruitment rate for new midwives is down (see RCM website) ...

Plus.... one minor point... there is no such thing as a scheduled birth, except in extreme situations. You cannot say "the average birth rate is". This policy (NHS Trust as per Maggie) of the NHS being a business has introduced models that (through logic) cannot work.

You know one thing... After WWII in the rebuild of Germany, the model for a company involved that representatives of the workforce were on the board as active partners in the running of the company. If a 'boss' had an idea that was silly, the workforce had a voice and active part in policy.

Over 'ere businesses rejected such a radical idea as being silly, didn't want the lads seeing them 'run' a business.

Like when a certain financial director got blackmailed over an 'event' to stop him spilling the beans on a certain chairman and the board.... such as tax fraud, backhanders, ignoring expert advice.