THE Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has expressed disappointment after graduate midwives were denied NHS jobs in Wales despite staffing shortages.

Previous years saw all graduate midwives granted a position through the Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) medical school’s streamlining process, but fewer roles were made available in 2026. 

RCM Cymru director Julie Richards said: “It leaves us questioning how many newly qualified midwives, who are ready and willing to work, can be left without jobs while services continue to struggle with workforce shortages.

“It’s disappointing that there are insufficient jobs for all graduate midwives when we desperately need them in the workforce to ease the staffing crisis in our maternity services.

“But until we bring every one of the newly qualified midwives into a role where they are caring for women and babies, it’s just not enough.

“We’re willing and committed to working with HEIW and health boards to ensure there are sufficient jobs in a system which is currently so over-stretched.”

RCM Cymru has repeatedly warned that staffing shortages in maternity services must be treated as a safety issue. 

It called for urgent action from the Welsh government following the maternity and neonatal assessment Pathways to safer beginnings in Wales report.

The report found that staffing levels in maternity and neonatal services have not kept pace with increasing demand and complexity of care. 

Ms Richards added: “On one hand we have national reviews and assessments highlighting the urgent need to improve staffing levels to ensure safe, equitable care. 

“On the other, we are seeing newly qualified midwives facing uncertainty about their future employment. That simply does not add up.”

The government was contacted for comment.