Do you think it is acceptable to leave the NHS after qualifying?

This has interested me and got me thinking whilst being on the course with the controversy that surrounds maternity services currently.

The NHS funding our course, paying our fees, their staff mentoring us during clinical practice, the use of NHS resources (however pathetic we think all of those may at times be!)

The further on we progress and see the light at the end of the tunnel, you begin to consider (obv if I get that far) will you be able to get a job? what will you do if not? Should I move to OZ, NZ? Canada etc?

I think the NHS should guarantee every newly qualified midwife a years work post qualifying to at least ensure consolidation of skills, but if you cannot get employment, what then? I would dearly love to stay here and look after the U.K'S women, wherever they are or are from, but at what cost to us?

or do you think we owe the NHS nothing?

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I agree, I think there should be a guaranteed post for a year after qualifying. This is one thing that bothers me, struggling as much as we do for three years, and for what, to end up an unemployed professional, what use is that?

What a waste of time, money and rescources, it is no wonder so many people do go abraod to work, but they shouldn't have to.

I personally wouldn't move abroad, I will ride it out here and hope that when/if I qualify there are enough jobs to go round.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

I think they should guarantee at least 6 months to newly qualifieds, starting from June/July time lol, as you rightly say, it costs £45,000 per student to train, then there are no jobs at the end of it. Like a lot of other professions in the NHS at the mo!!
Some Trusts I believe are already doing that, but unfortunately or Trust isn't.
Apparantly there are approx 1000 newly qualified midwives from the last 2 years unemployed. How accurate this figure is is anyones guesstimate, that said maybe they decided not to work in the profession anymore, or did emmigrate who knows???
Whatever, the situation is poor isn't it?? Not only for the newlys, but the taxpayer, the Trust who has spent too much money on people to tell them how to stop spending so much money, and of course most important of all the real victims are the women.
With a rising birth rate and falling recruitment and retention rates surely something will give soon, I hope so for everyones sake xxx

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

I totally agree with you smwife re: guaranteeing NQ's jobs and if they did, I would have no problem staying in the UK (I too, want to work in the UK as they are the women we see day in day out as student...) But, if you cannot get employment in the UK then I feel that if you can (and want to) move, go for it! If the NHS won't respect us when we qualify then why should we respect them by staying in a country where there are no jobs for us and maternity care is deteriorating... Get the NQM's employed and look after the long-standing staff and I think everyone would be happier.

In short, I don't feel we owe then NHS anything and although they pay for our training, mentors etc... what good is it if you can't practice once qualified!

Just my opinion anyway, I'm sure others would disagree...

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StudentMidwife.NET Administrator (aka The Welsh One )
PAB Support Worker