A call for midwives has been launched by West Middlesex University Hospital following the expansion of their maternity ward.
The hospital need midwives from the local area to join their expanding maternity team to cope with the rising numbers of new borns at its new maternity ward (pictured), due to open in the autumn.
The Isleworth hospital's maternity services deliver more than 3,800 babies to local families every year and the Natural Birth Centre will mean this number will increase by around 1,000 a year.
Aimed at professional staff only, an open day is being held this Friday, August, 15, from 10.00am until 12.30pm in the hospital's Rumbles restaurant, with staff on hand to help secure local, affordable accommodation.
Tonie Neville, Head of Maternity Services said: "West Middlesex University Hospital is one of the few units in the area to have a Consultant Midwife overseeing midwifery practice. Working with her will give the right midwives the best opportunity to practice and develop as independent practitioners."
The recruitment drive comes in a national climate of shortages and low morale for midwives, highlighted in a recent survey by the RoyalCollege of Midwives in which 91 per cent of midwives said they cannotoffer women and babies good care because of extra numbers and two outof three said things are so bad they have considered quitting their jobs in the past year.
But West Mid - which made the top ten of London hospitals in a recent Healthcare Commision review of maternity services - says although there is a national shortage of midwives it is not a problem for them, with the hospital's services enjoying an excellent reputation across the capital.
