Midwife training places to be cut

The number of midwifery training places is dropping, research suggests, despite David Cameron's promise to recruit 3,000 more midwives if he was elected. Six out of 10 strategic health authorities in England are cutting training places for 2011-12 against the previous year, a Nursing Standard survey shows.

Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "We believe that 4,700 more midwives are needed in England to provide a safe and high-quality service. We have a situation where the numbers of midwives coming in will be falling, along with a big retirement bulge in the next five to 10 years."