SCOTTISH Greens have pledged to boost maternity services with an “earn as you learn” midwife recruitment campaign and introducing minimum staffing levels.

The proposal comes just months after inspectors found staff shortages at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh’s maternity unit not only crippled staff morale, but compromised patient safety.

“Too many women and families are being let down by a maternity system that is under enormous strain while midwives are being asked to do more and more in overstretched services,” said Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay.

“That is not fair on them or on the people relying on their care. Women should know that when they need care, the right staff will be there, with the time and capacity to support them properly. 

“That is why the Scottish Greens are committed to introducing minimum safe staffing levels on all maternity and labour wards and expanding the midwife workforce by creating accessible earn-as-you-learn routes into midwifery.

“If we are serious about fixing the staffing crisis, we need to remove the barriers that prevent more people from taking up training in the profession in the first place.”