Midwives: Graduate Guarantee

Baroness Burt of Solihull Excerpts

Tuesday 21st April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Again, I refer to the forthcoming 10-year health and care workforce plan, which will take a multidisciplinary approach. I certainly share the noble Baroness’s views about the value of health visitors. As we move services into the community and develop the neighbourhood health service, that will require the greater use of roles such as health visitors. Ultimately, this is a local matter about local employment of staff to meet local need.

[Baroness Burt of Solihull (LD)]

My Lords, given the concerns about unsafe workloads in maternity services, how do the Government justify a situation where qualified midwives are available but not being brought into permanent roles?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

That is the very reason why we have brought in this guarantee, because it provides an immediate route into employment for those who are newly qualified. A number of things about that are important, including reducing the risk of graduates leaving the profession because they cannot find jobs. The reason why there are an additional 850 time-limited or temporary roles is to get people in under existing budgets but also to get staff to enter the workforce where there are not immediately permanent vacancies. It is a strong way to address the point that the noble Baroness raises.