Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech is supporting moves in Parliament calling for a £10,000 bursary for student midwives.
The plans have been welcomed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and supported by over 140 MPs from all parties.
John Leech MP said:
"Too many student midwives do not finish their studies, many because of financial pressures. Introducing bursaries would lower the current drop-out rate of 20%. I therefore support the RCM's call for a £10,000 bursary."
Louise Silverton, Deputy General Secretary of the RCM, said:
"We are extremely pleased that John Leech MP, together with more than 140 other MPs from across the political spectrum, is supporting student midwives."
"One in five student midwives abandon their studies. Many cite financial hardship as the main reason for dropping out."
"For the Government to have any chance of living up to its manifesto commitments that by 2009 all women will be supported by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy and that all women should have choice over where and how they give birth, we must have many more midwives. Indeed, we need 10,000 more midwives to provide a first-class service."
"To achieve this we need to give student midwives the greatest possible chance of completing their studies. This is precisely why the RCM is campaigning for an annual non-means-tested bursary of £10,000 for every student midwife."
"With so many MPs supporting this motion we hope we will soon see the Government delivering a better deal for student midwives. This investment in our maternity services will in turn deliver a better deal for mothers, babies and their families."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The average age of a student midwife is 34, and many have childcare and other responsibilities which they need to be able to provide for whilst training. Unlike many other students, student midwives work a 48-week year and combine classroom learning with practical hands-on work as a midwife.
Before they qualify, student midwives have to deliver 40 babies.
The RCM represents over 95% of the UK's practising midwives, and is the world's oldest and largest midwifery organisation. It works to advance the interests of midwives and the midwifery profession and, by doing so, enhances the well-being of women, babies and families.
Early Day Motion 197 reads:
"That this House recognises the vital role that midwives play in the NHS; notes that many student midwives face financial problems during their training and that, according to the Royal College of Midwives' poll, around a fifth of midwives fail to complete their studies due to financial hardship; and therefore supports the RCM campaign to provide a £10,000 non-means tested bursary for all student midwives, ensuring more students are attracted to midwifery, are able to complete their course and go on to become practising midwives."
Follow the party's activity on...