Nurses being used to cover for shortage of midwives, says union

NURSES are being used to prevent a crisis in midwifery care at some of the country’s largest maternity hospitals, the Irish Nursing Organisation said yesterday.

General Secretary of the INO Liam Doran said the shortage of midwives, which had been particularly acute over the last 12 months, was getting worse and nurses were being employed in the main maternity areas in an effort to offset the shortage.

"For the first time, more than one maternity hospital has been unable to fill their student midwife training places. This means the shortage will be exacerbated in the future," Mr Doran warned.