A growing number of young midwives are leaving the NHS in England before reaching the age of 35, raising concerns about the future stability, quality and safety of maternity care across the country.
New NHS figures reveal that thousands of early-career midwives have resigned in recent years, with burnout, workforce shortages and increasing pressure within maternity units believed to be key factors driving professionals away from the service.
During the 2025-26 financial year, 1,669 midwives aged 34 or younger left the NHS in England, accounting for more than half of all midwives who resigned during the period. In total, 2,949 midwives across all age groups left the health service after citing resignation as their reason for departure.
The figures have intensified warnings from healthcare leaders and campaigners that continued losses among younger professionals could worsen existing staffing pressures and place additional strain on maternity services already facing significant challenges.
Burnout And Workplace Pressure Driving Midwife Exodus
Healthcare experts believe the increasing complexity of childbirth, combined with persistent workforce shortages, is contributing to a rise in early-career departures.
Of the 1,669 midwives under the age of 35 who left the NHS last year, 205 were younger than 25, while 655 were aged between 25 and 29. A further 809 midwives were aged between 30 and 34, according to parliamentary information obtained by the Liberal Democrats.
The number of younger midwives leaving the NHS has increased substantially over the past decade. The 2025-26 figure represents a 59% rise compared with the 1,051 midwives under 35 who resigned during the 2014-15 financial year.
The trend has raised concerns that newly qualified professionals are experiencing unsustainable working conditions shortly after entering the profession.
Hannah Leonard, Deputy Chief Midwife at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), described the departure of younger midwives as “deeply worrying”, warning that many professionals are becoming exhausted within only a few years of qualification.
She said increasing workloads, insufficient staffing levels, missed breaks and unpaid hours were contributing to a situation where experienced and newly qualified midwives were leaving the profession prematurely.
Midwifery Students Also Dropping Out Before Qualification
The workforce challenges facing maternity services are not limited to qualified staff, with separate figures highlighting significant levels of attrition among student midwives.
Data obtained by the Liberal Democrats shows that almost one-quarter of midwifery students are failing to complete their three-year degree courses.
In 2021, 3,565 students began studying midwifery in England. However, only 2,725 had graduated by 2024, meaning 840 aspiring midwives — approximately 24% of the cohort — abandoned their training before qualification.
Midwifery education involves extensive clinical placements, with students spending much of their second and third years working directly within maternity units. Campaigners argue that exposure to the pressures facing frontline services may contribute to students reconsidering their future careers.
The loss of both qualified professionals and trainees has deepened concerns about the long-term sustainability of the NHS maternity workforce.
Maternity Safety Concerns Intensify
The Royal College of Midwives has previously described staffing shortages across maternity care as a “staffing emergency”, warning that workforce pressures are directly linked to concerns over patient safety.
Recent surveys conducted by the organisation found that three-quarters of midwives had considered leaving the profession within the previous year, with concerns over staffing levels and the ability to provide safe care among the main reasons cited.
The issue has also been highlighted in major reviews of maternity services in England.
Independent investigations led by Donna Ockenden and Valerie Amos both identified workforce shortages as a significant factor affecting the safety and quality of maternity care.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson, said the latest figures demonstrated an alarming crisis within maternity services.
She warned that mothers and babies were being placed at risk as midwives continued to leave due to overwhelming workplace pressures.
Morgan argued that simply recruiting more staff would not resolve the problem unless the NHS also addressed the conditions causing newly qualified professionals to leave.
She called for stronger investment in protected training opportunities, professional development and measures to support midwives throughout their careers.
Young Midwives Leaving At Higher Rates Than Other Age Groups
Although approximately 10% of all NHS midwives leave the service each year, younger professionals are departing at considerably higher rates.
NHS figures show that during 2025-26, 14.6% of midwives aged between 25 and 29 resigned, while 16.6% of those aged between 30 and 34 left the health service.
These figures highlight a growing retention challenge, with many professionals leaving during the early and mid stages of their careers when they would traditionally be expected to develop expertise and take on greater responsibilities.
Healthcare leaders warn that losing experienced midwives at this stage creates additional pressure on remaining staff and increases reliance on recruitment and training pipelines that are already under strain.
Government Highlights Workforce Investment
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the NHS currently has a record number of midwives working across England, with 25,500 full-time equivalent professionals employed — around 2,000 more than when the Labour government took office in July 2024.
A spokesperson said the government recognises the vital contribution midwives make to maternity and neonatal services and highlighted measures introduced to improve staff wellbeing, flexible working opportunities and workplace safety.
The department also pointed to consecutive above-inflation pay rises, a graduate guarantee programme and the creation of 1,000 additional midwifery positions supported by £10 million in funding.
However, professional bodies and campaigners argue that increasing workforce numbers alone will not address the underlying reasons why younger midwives are leaving.
They say long-term improvements will require sustained investment in working conditions, staff support and a fundamental reassessment of how maternity services are structured.
Future Of NHS Maternity Care Depends On Retaining Staff
With maternity services already facing rising demand and increasing clinical complexity, retaining experienced midwives has become a central challenge for the NHS.
Experts warn that without effective action to address burnout and improve working environments, the health service risks losing a generation of skilled professionals at the very point when their expertise is most needed.
The continued departure of younger midwives represents not only a workforce issue but also a wider challenge for patient safety, healthcare quality and the future resilience of maternity services across England.