Why do midwives leave? (Not) being the kind of midwife you want to be.

This article, the first in a series of six, presents findings from the Why do Midwives Leave? study which explored leavers’ reasons for ceasing to practise. For many midwives, making the decision to leave had been a protracted and difficult process. Although there were five main reasons given for leaving, the largest single group of leavers comprised those midwives who had grown dissatisfied with the way they were required to practise within the contemporary NHS. Concern was evident in relation to the standard of care they felt able to provide and the relationships that they were able to establish with their clients. Organisational issues were also highlighted, including low staffing levels and unsupportive midwifery management.