Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to improve working conditions in midwifery to deter people from leaving the profession.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are designing and facilitating a community of practice for midwifery leaders to address the health and wellbeing needs of their teams and enhance morale. The 2020 NHS People Plan includes a programme for organisations to retain staff through prioritising staff health and wellbeing, building an inclusive and compassionate culture in the National Health Service and strengthening support for flexible working. The NHS Retention Programme seeks to understand why staff leave, resulting in targeted interventions to support staff to stay whilst keeping them well.