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Midwife
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£20,700 per year
If you love babies and like the idea of helping to bring them into the world, this could be the perfect career for you. As a midwife you would care for and support pregnant women and their babies, before, during and after childbirth.
To qualify as a registered midwife you need to complete a degree in midwifery. You will also need to agree to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Courses take at least three years to complete.
To be a midwife you need excellent communication and 'people' skills. You need the ability to inspire trust and confidence. And you will also need a calm manner to deal with stressful situations.
WorkDesc
The work
Before a birth, your work would typically include:
- giving pregnant women advice on issues such as healthy eating
- explaining options such as giving birth in hospital or at home, natural childbirth and types of pain relief
- running classes about pregnancy (antenatal) and parenting
- checking the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy.
During labour, you would:
- check how labour is progressing
- monitor the baby during labour and birth
- give pain relief or advise on ways to manage pain
- deliver the baby
- call a doctor if you notice any medical problems.
Once the baby is born, your work could include giving advice to families on feeding, bathing and generally caring for their baby. As a midwife based in the community, you would visit people's homes to check on the health of the mother and baby.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work 37.5 hours a week, including evening, weekend and night shifts. Many hospitals offer part-time hours.
You could work in various places including hospital maternity units, GP surgeries, midwife units and birth centres.
In some NHS trusts you would split your time between working in the community and working in hospitals. In other trusts, you may move between antenatal, delivery and postnatal tasks every six months.
As a community midwife, you would go to clinics and visit clients in their homes.
IncomeDesc
Income
Midwives in the NHS can earn between £20,700 and £33,500 a year. Team managers can earn around £39,300 a year and midwife consultants earn up to £65,600 a year.
Extra allowances can be earned for additional responsibilities, length of service, and geographical location.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To qualify as a registered midwife you need to complete a degree in midwifery leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Courses take at least three years to complete.
To do a degree, you will usually need:
- at least five GCSEs (A-C), including English and maths or science
- two or three A levels, possibly including biology
- evidence of your good health and good character.
You will also need to agree to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. See the CRB website for details.
Check exact entry requirements with course providers as other qualifications may also be accepted, such as an Access to Higher Education course. Course providers are listed on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website. The NMC website also includes further advice.
Those on a midwifery degree course could get funds (a bursary) to cover living expenses. This is not based on income and does not have to be paid back. The course fees would also usually be paid. Check the NHS Business Services Authority website for details.
Once you are on the degree, you will study at university as well as work in hospitals, the community and in clients' homes.
Courses usually take at least three years to complete. However, if you are a registered nurse (adult branch), your training may be shortened to around 18 months. You will need to contact midwifery degree course providers directly to check if they offer this shorter programme.
If you qualified as a midwife overseas, you may need to complete a midwifery change programme before you can register and work in the UK. Contact the NMC for details
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a qualified midwife you must renew your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) every three years. To renew you must:
- have worked a minimum of 450 hours
- show that you are developing your knowledge and competence
- show that you are keeping your skills up to date
- complete a minimum of 35 hours of professional study
- keep records of your professional development.
See the NMC website for more details.
You could take further training to specialise in particular aspects of midwifery, such as ultrasound or neonatal care.
If you have had a break from working as a midwife and your registration is out of date you will need to take a return to practice course. Courses are available throughout the UK and include a mixture of theory and clinical placements. Contact your local NHS Trust for details.
See the NMC website for full details of re-registration.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a midwife you will need to have:
- excellent communication and 'people' skills
- the ability to inspire trust and confidence
- patience and tact
- respect for the needs of families from a variety of cultures
- strong teamwork skills and the initiative to work alone
- a calm manner in stressful situations
- physical and mental stamina.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Nursing and Midwifery Council 
(NMC)
23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7333 9333
www.nmc-uk.org
Queens University of Belfast
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Medical Biology Centre
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233
www.qub.ac.uk
University of Ulster at Jordanstown
School of Nursing
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700
www.ulster.ac.uk
NHS Education for Scotland
22 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JX
Tel: 0131 226 7371
www.nes.scot.nhs.uk
National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare
Innovation House
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333
www.nliah.wales.nhs.uk/
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You would find most jobs in the NHS, although you could also work in private hospitals and clinics. You may also find opportunities overseas, especially in developing countries.
With experience, you could become a ward manager or team leader, responsible for a hospital ward or a team of midwives in the community. You may be able to progress to director of midwifery or midwifery consultant. You would usually need a Masters degree or PhD for this.
Another option is to take further training to become a health visitor, or neonatal nurse specialising in the treatment of women and babies with health problems related to birth.
You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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