The NHS's maternity services are facing a growing crisis as an alarming number of young midwives quit their jobs before the age of 35 due to burnout. According to recent data, over half (57%) of the 2,949 midwives who left the health service in England during the 2025-26 financial year were aged 34 or under. This trend is putting severe pressure on already understaffed maternity units and raising concerns about the safety and quality of care for new mothers and their babies.
Between 2025-26, a total of 1,669 midwives aged 34 or under departed from the NHS in England, with 205 under 25, 655 between 25 and 29, and another 809 aged between 30 and 34. The rate of younger midwives quitting has increased sharply, with the 2025-26 figure being 59% higher than the 1,051 who left in 2014-15.
The intense pressures within maternity services are driving this exodus, including increasing complexity of childbirth and associated risks. Hannah Leonard, Deputy Chief Midwife at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), describes the situation as "deeply worrying", highlighting that many midwives become "burnt-out within a few years of qualifying due to too few colleagues, missed breaks and unpaid hours". The RCM has labelled this a "staffing emergency" in maternity care across the UK, with three-quarters of midwives considering leaving the profession in the past year due to staffing levels and patient safety concerns.
The problem is compounded by a significant dropout rate among midwifery students. Figures show that almost one in four (24%) midwifery students fail to complete their three-year degree courses, with 840 out of 3,565 students who began their course in 2021 not graduating in 2024. This represents a substantial loss of future talent for the NHS.
Previous major reviews have consistently identified staff shortages as a critical factor compromising patient safety. While the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) acknowledges the issue, they note that there is a "record number of midwives in the workforce" and are implementing measures to improve wellbeing, promote flexible working, and tackle workplace abuse.