Shortage of Midwives This Summer – Again

Two-thirds of the regions report that the staffing in maternity care looks better or is unchanged compared to last summer. Just over a third report that it has become worse. However, over half of the regions do not have enough midwives to ensure staffing, according to a survey by TT.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: July 03 2024

Shortage of Midwives This Summer – Again
Photo: Christine Olsson, Henrik Montgomery/TT

Two-thirds of the regions report that the staffing in maternity care looks better or is unchanged compared to last summer. Just over a third report that it has become worse.

However, more than half of the regions do not have enough midwives to ensure staffing, according to a survey by TT.

Despite the difficult situation in some places, all 19 regions that responded to TT's survey have been able to grant four weeks of continuous leave to midwives who requested it.

Many regions have solved the staffing issue by hiring temporary midwives and pensioners, as well as offering bonuses to permanent employees who move their vacation and take extra shifts.

Despite this, more than half of the respondents report that there is a risk that women may be forced to travel to other regions to give birth this summer.

"Extremely stressful for the staff"

In Värmland, the staffing situation is much worse than last summer, partly because the region no longer uses temporary midwives, according to Charlotte Stenström, department head at the maternity ward in Region Värmland.

The maternity clinic, which is the only one in the region, manages to staff the rest of the year, but during the summer, they become understaffed during certain shifts.

It's obviously extremely stressful for the staff, but we never go below a threshold that would compromise medical safety, she says.

The consequences are that they may have to say no to planned inductions, and midwives will not be able to be as present with each woman giving birth.

Despite understaffing during certain shifts, Värmland women do not need to worry that they will not get a place.

The situation is much better

In Region Örebro, the staffing situation looks much better this summer compared to last year. One reason is that they have worked a lot on the issue in recent years, says Jennie Kilstam, unit manager at the maternity ward at Örebro University Hospital.

I think we're seeing the effect now. We've tried to look at the individuals in the workforce and see what their needs are in life. Some want to work straight weeks and others want to work weekends.

Kilstam believes that midwives are seeking other parts of healthcare because they do not like the working hours or scheduling at maternity clinics.

The regions' biggest challenge for maternity care during the summer months is staffing, according to the survey. Several regions describe small margins if something unexpected happens, and it is difficult to staff substitutes with the right competence.

The survey was sent to all 21 regions in Sweden, and all except Region Jönköping County and Region Blekinge responded.

The survey was sent out before the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) and the Swedish Association of Health Professionals (Vårdförbundet) reached a new agreement on June 28. At that time, nearly three-quarters of the respondents reported that the healthcare conflict had affected the region's maternity care.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Man in His 20s Critically
1 MIN READ

Man in His 20s Critically Injured in Malmö; Police Investigate

Explosion Reported in Nyköping: Residents
1 MIN READ

Explosion Reported in Nyköping: Residents Evacuated from Building

Mild Weather Returns to Sweden
1 MIN READ

Mild Weather Returns to Sweden After Cold Snap

VR Therapy Offers New Hope
5 MIN READ

VR Therapy Offers New Hope for Phantom Pain Relief

Sweden Moves Toward Collective Wages
2 MIN READ

Sweden Moves Toward Collective Wages with New Union Agreements

Hurricane Names Retired After Last
3 MIN READ

Hurricane Names Retired After Last Year's Devastating Storms

Sweden Allocates 500 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Sweden Allocates 500 Million Kronor to Boost Prison Services

Two Men in Their 60s
1 MIN READ

Two Men in Their 60s Held for Attempted Murder in Ängelholm

Fire at Ikea Factory in
2 MIN READ

Fire at Ikea Factory in Hultsfred Contained After Explosion

Mother Fined 20,000 Kronor for
1 MIN READ

Mother Fined 20,000 Kronor for Photo at Swedish Military Base

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Detained
3 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Detained with Istanbul Mayor in Turkey

Three Arrested in Malmö After
2 MIN READ

Three Arrested in Malmö After Police Find Hand Grenades

Animal Hoarding Crisis: Dogs Rescued
3 MIN READ

Animal Hoarding Crisis: Dogs Rescued from Extreme Collectors in Sweden

Explosion in Southern Stockholm Targets
1 MIN READ

Explosion in Southern Stockholm Targets Residence, Suspect Arrested

Row House in Svedala Destroyed
1 MIN READ

Row House in Svedala Destroyed by Fire; Arson Suspected

Sweden Cracks Down on Cheating
2 MIN READ

Sweden Cracks Down on Cheating in University Entrance Exams

Sweden Urged to Boost Defense
1 MIN READ

Sweden Urged to Boost Defense Industry Support, Says FMV Chief

Third Arrest in Karlstad Sex
1 MIN READ

Third Arrest in Karlstad Sex Crime Case Involving Vulnerable Victims

Man Seriously Injured in Borås
1 MIN READ

Man Seriously Injured in Borås Car Crash; Investigation Underway

Police Disarm Over Ten Hand
2 MIN READ

Police Disarm Over Ten Hand Grenades Found in Malmö Backpack

Swedish Education Minister Stands by
3 MIN READ

Swedish Education Minister Stands by Digital Tests Despite Setbacks

Sweden's Ugliest Building: New Lund
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Ugliest Building: New Lund House Sparks Debate

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 10
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 10 Years in Denmark for Explosives Transport

Sweden Proposes Profit Ban for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Profit Ban for New Independent Schools

Man at Arlanda Airport Found
1 MIN READ

Man at Arlanda Airport Found with 7,000 Dollars in Cash

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's
2 MIN READ

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's Release in Talks with Turkey

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful
1 MIN READ

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful Foot Surgery

Police Uncover Timeline Gap in
2 MIN READ

Police Uncover Timeline Gap in Örebro Shooting Investigation

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling
2 MIN READ

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling Body Image Issues in Youth

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces
1 MIN READ

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces Constitutional Committee Review

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in
1 MIN READ

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in Blekinge, Raising Concerns

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise
1 MIN READ

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise Deaths, No Crime Suspected

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade
1 MIN READ

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade Attack on Malmö Restaurant

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to
3 MIN READ

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to Revitalize Sweden's Liberal Party

Record Number of Swedes Register
1 MIN READ

Record Number of Swedes Register for University Entrance Exam

Shots Fired at House in
1 MIN READ

Shots Fired at House in Hudiksvall, Police Investigate Attempted Murder

15-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Eslöv
1 MIN READ

15-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Eslöv Bus Stabbing Incident

Demirok Steps Down as Center
1 MIN READ

Demirok Steps Down as Center Party Leader Citing Internal Leaks

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by
3 MIN READ

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by Stockholm University Team