It was a freezing, gritty, grey day in London and we all gathered outside Waterstones on Gower Street, a big blue #bursaryorbust banner fluttering in the wind.
(You can see it was cold from my expression, that was me trying to stop my teeth chattering).
A helicopter was above us, police were around us, and in the crowd, there were many charged political banners of different types. We were there for one thing: to stop the cuts to the finances of future NHS professionals. If you don't know about this already, tuition fees and bursaries are to be cut, putting future health care professionals in massive debt.
Before we marched, I was lucky to meet some gorgeous professionals who wanted to stand up against the midwifery student cuts.
These professionals had busy lives because of shifts and other commitments, and you could see they were tired but oh-so-passionate.
It’s incredibly inspiring to be around such a good group. We drank tea. We ate cake.
We talked about the possible changes to the demographics of midwives that will be able to train, the impact on care if mentors are flooded with students, and the overall future of the profession.
But it wasn’t the injustice or the stupidity of the cuts that I reflected on most.
(Though I’ve done plenty of that!)
It was the bravery of midwives and others to keep looking at the political situation, assessing it from every side with intelligence, authenticity, the wellbeing of families at the centre of their decision to protest.
When you read about it in the news, protesting might seem a simple enough decision.
Midwifery student cuts are a threat, so reach for the placards.
It might look like committing to the cause and loudly protesting is the simple, right thing to do.
But real life midwifery is far more complicated than that.
Midwives are part of an autonomous, but regulated, profession and their interests are all about the women they care for.
In deciding to march, you have to think through every possible outcome.
Will women have confidence in professionals who march as part of a Unison/RCM rally?
What if you’re caring for someone who doesn’t believe striking is the right thing?
What if you end up on TV or in the news, against the contract of your workplace?
For instance, many hospitals and trusts ask if you do march, that you shouldn’t do it in uniform, or at least cover the logo.
As a midwife in a difficult, litigious world, you have the feelings of the women in your care, and your colleagues to think about.
It’s always going to be a dance between protesting for the rights of women, without fear, like my heroes Mary Cronk and Shelia Kitzinger – and being a registered professional.
Because this is the real world, not some idealised activist film (however much I like watching them and think they’re important 😉 )
Back in October last year, the Royal College of Midwives decided to organise a strike for the first time ever.
It was about fair pay, but I know the midwives who took part were really striking for the overall care of women and babies.
But this wasn’t an easy decision, illustrated really well by the fact the Royal College of Nurses, decided not to strike despite the fact their profession was facing similar financial cuts.
So this stuff isn’t simple. You have to deeply consider what you want to do….then find your tribe who think the same….then act!
I continue to be inspired by the bravery of midwives.
I recommend you do as much reading as you can on the history of midwifery. It’s always been a profession based on the brave political decisions of women, for women.
Educate yourself, know that your voice and your views matter.
And don’t beat yourself up for ANY decision – just as long as you know it’s the right one for you, validated by thought and debate and learning.
Please let me know, anonymously or not, via the comments below….
- Do you agree or disagree with the bursary cuts?
- Would you march to protest?
- What would make you take to leap to protest for midwifery?
Thanks Roblanephotography.co.uk for the photo.
In terms of the bursary I personally don’t mind taking student loans I don’t think it will put people off not if they genuinely believe it’s the career for them and with research and clear understanding of student loans for some it means they are financially better whilst studying.
As for protesting well if it’s putting the women of this country at risk then voices should be heard. If all other options have been covered then what choice are you left with? people don’t always agree with individual choices but I for one want to see change happen so if my daughter decides to have a baby that she gets a standard of care that every woman deserves regardless of their financial status.
So after a long hard debate with myself (about a year) I decided my chosen degree in management just wasn’t for me. I had always wanted to be a midwife but was never confident enough to pursue. Like I said after finally realising midwifery was something I was destined to do I started volunteering, reading and watching anything to do with becoming/being a midwife. I applied to do an access course and was accepted straight away. Great I thought…… then the cuts happened!!!! I have now been told I will not be funded by student finance as I have already studied a degree unlike previously as it was NHS funded I would be able to get funding. I spent a whole year preparing and studying for absolutely nothing!! I am so happy so many people like you are standing up to these cuts!! Yes the courses may not be so hard to get on now. But that’s really not the point. I just wanted to say thank you to you and anyone else that are standing up for what’s right!!
Georgia, I’m sorry if my reply seemed abrupt as my perspective is from an undergraduate view 🙂 I’m very suprised about the lack of student loans for people like yourself I know several graduates who are completing second degrees with help of student finance I can’t imagine how frustrated you must be feeling:(
Hi Georgia, who told you that you couldn’t get a student loan if you have a second degree? They are making an exception for nurses and midwives as they know the percentage of mature students in those fields is really high. This is what you can find on the website gov.uk. I don’t think there is anything more official than that website. This is what they say:
‘We intend that students studying nursing, midwifery and the allied health subjects as a second degree will also be able to get student loans.’
Why don’t you have a read through yourself and never ever let anyone tell you what you cannot do.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-bursary-reform/nhs-bursary-reform
Whilst I fully endorse the view that we are all in midwifery because we care about the wellbeing and birthing experiences of women, I have to say that the main reason I’m opposed to the cuts to the bursary are because I feel that being forced to pay for the “privilege” of working for the NHS, smarts more than a little!
I have been in the world of employment for almost 30 years and have had some pretty awful and rather difficult jobs in that time. But working as a (mature) student midwife definitely goes down as being the most exhausting and demanding work I have ever undertaken. As I am currently a student, I am fortunate to be studying under the present bursary situation, even though I have to say, it is still very difficult financially! But it doesn’t mean I cannot also feel empathy towards my future colleagues. I really cannot fathom how the government can even countenance the abolition of the current meagre bursary, which isn’t even equal on an hourly basis of the lowest national minimum wage, let alone introduce the requirement for healthcare students to actually PAY to work within the NHS…all the while sharing the workload and providing outstanding care…in order to gain NMC registration…to most likely spend their entire career in debt, working in the NHS!
If the bursary is cut, student loans won’t be enough. They are means tested but don’t take a lot of things into account.
A student nurse or midwife can’t get a part time job because they don’t get all summer off and evenings and weekends like other students. We are unable to take a job as we are unsure what hours we will work (yes work,although we are training we are still working, much like an apprenticeship). The healthcare students will not be financially stable enough to keep themselves while on the course without the bursary.
I think if they do cut the bursary we should be paid for hours worked on placement. This could help us start paying back while we study and help us be able to support ourselves while studying.
Having said all that – the bursary should stay.
I’ve just seen an ad on the TV saying that trainee teachers still get a bursary up to £30,000 which makes the imposition of fees for nursing and midwifery students even more galling
Hi everyone. As a student midwife in New Zealand my colleagues and I have been watching this story with interest. Here we have to pay massive course fees ($10,000+ per year) in addition to funding our own travel, course related costs, etc, etc. It’s not a cheap life and scholarships are almost non-existent! But the passion that we as students have for midwifery (on the most part) allows us to overlook the financial burden and the fact that we will be graduating into a profession that is unpayed, understaffed, and overworked. And I think it’s a real shame that this is the case. So many women (and the odd man) are just not in a profession to journey down this degree pathway due to the financial restraint that studying would place on them and their families. Less graduating midwives, less care for women.. I think that the protests happening in England are fantastic! Midwifery as a profession has always been political and stood up proudly and against all adversaries to get the best possible outcome for the women and families that midwives support and empower. I hope with all of my heart that your efforts are successful and England leads by example in supporting future healthcare professionals to succeed as I know just how challenging this life can be without that support xx