Junior doctor burnout threatens maternity patients, regulator says

Dr Kat Barton, chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) National Trainee Committee, warned that junior doctor burnout is putting maternity patients at risk. She said many trainees feel overstretched and close to burnout, citing staff shortages and working beyond normal hours as reasons care is being affected. Barton added that safe care depends on well‑supported, well‑resourced teams that listen to each other and to women and families, and called on the government to invest in safe staffing, protect training time and support wellbeing and careers.

Recent high‑profile maternity reviews of outcomes for mothers and babies highlighted concerns about workplace culture, leadership and the ability of staff to raise concerns. The GMC survey showed obstetrics and gynaecology trainees were more positive than average about reporting patient‑safety incidents and near‑misses. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "In all the investigations carried out in recent years into failings in maternity services, one of the key lessons has been that members of staff must feel empowered to speak up if they have concerns about workload, or patient safety, and their concerns must be acted upon.

"All NHS trusts are now required to have a dedicated Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and internal pathways for staff to raise concerns about the working environment, patient safety, or their own wellbeing. "Alongside this, we are continuing to grow and strengthen the workforce to help relieve the pressures on busy maternity units, and there are now a record number of midwives working in the NHS, with over 600 added in the past year. "Since coming into the role in July, the Secretary of State has made maternity services a personal priority, and the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that she is chairing is working to respond to the concerns raised by staff and families alike, and ensure that every maternity unit meets the highest standards of patient safety and care."