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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Midwives in the shadows: The continuing effects of long-Covid on NHS maternity staff
1
University of Greenwich, Institute for Lifecourse Development, Brighton, United Kingdom
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A511
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this presentation is to raise awareness of the ongoing plight for midwives who contracted Covid 19 and still struggle with long-Covid symptoms. Statistics indicate that 2 million people in the UK self-reported long-Covid, with 30% of those reporting symptoms lasting 3 years or more (ONS, 2024). However, even 5 years on from the Covid 19 global pandemic, there is still no internationally agreed definition of long-Covid and no evidence-based treatment (Greenhalgh et al., 2024). The aim is to dispel myths about long-Covid, put forward some solutions to improve midwives’ conditions in practice and suggest strategies to maximise retention of the midwifery workforce.
DISCUSSION:
Increasing numbers of midwives are leaving the NHS but there is no clear breakdown of why midwives are retiring early or leaving the profession (NMC, 2025). The exact number of midwives with long-Covid is unknown. Unfortunately, occupational health and human resources departments do not have a standardised approach to managing long-Covid in the United Kingdom. The lack of structured support for midwives with this condition has therefore caused a significant impact on attrition. Models of good practice exist in professions such as medicine to ensure flexible workplace adjustments using personalised plans (BMA, 2023). There evidently needs to be fair, equitable treatment and support across professions.
EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
British Medical Association (2023) The long-term impact of Covid-19 on doctors. London: BMA. Greenhalgh T, Sivan M, Perlowski A, Nikolich J (2024) Long COVID: a clinical update. The Lancet. 401, 10453, pp 707-724. NMC (2025) Professionals who left the NMC register in 2024/2025. London: NMC. Office for National Statistics (2024) Self-reported COVID-19 infections, England and Scotland. London: ONS.
KEY MESSAGE:
Investment in supporting frontline NHS midwives with symptoms of long-Covid will benefit and positively impact individual midwives, the NHS, birthing women, their babies and the economy. Poster session 1 (Group A)
The purpose of this presentation is to raise awareness of the ongoing plight for midwives who contracted Covid 19 and still struggle with long-Covid symptoms. Statistics indicate that 2 million people in the UK self-reported long-Covid, with 30% of those reporting symptoms lasting 3 years or more (ONS, 2024). However, even 5 years on from the Covid 19 global pandemic, there is still no internationally agreed definition of long-Covid and no evidence-based treatment (Greenhalgh et al., 2024). The aim is to dispel myths about long-Covid, put forward some solutions to improve midwives’ conditions in practice and suggest strategies to maximise retention of the midwifery workforce.
DISCUSSION:
Increasing numbers of midwives are leaving the NHS but there is no clear breakdown of why midwives are retiring early or leaving the profession (NMC, 2025). The exact number of midwives with long-Covid is unknown. Unfortunately, occupational health and human resources departments do not have a standardised approach to managing long-Covid in the United Kingdom. The lack of structured support for midwives with this condition has therefore caused a significant impact on attrition. Models of good practice exist in professions such as medicine to ensure flexible workplace adjustments using personalised plans (BMA, 2023). There evidently needs to be fair, equitable treatment and support across professions.
EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
British Medical Association (2023) The long-term impact of Covid-19 on doctors. London: BMA. Greenhalgh T, Sivan M, Perlowski A, Nikolich J (2024) Long COVID: a clinical update. The Lancet. 401, 10453, pp 707-724. NMC (2025) Professionals who left the NMC register in 2024/2025. London: NMC. Office for National Statistics (2024) Self-reported COVID-19 infections, England and Scotland. London: ONS.
KEY MESSAGE:
Investment in supporting frontline NHS midwives with symptoms of long-Covid will benefit and positively impact individual midwives, the NHS, birthing women, their babies and the economy. Poster session 1 (Group A)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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