Guernsey’s Maternity Services Face New Challenges Amid Demographic Shifts

Experts indicate that Guernsey’s maternity services are encountering new difficulties due to an increase in islanders giving birth at an older age. A recent report from The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) cautions that this evolving demographic trend is expected to introduce “complexity to maternity services” within the bailiwick. The report identified that expectant mothers were twice as prone to being 30 years old or more and overweight or obese, “compared to just a few years ago”. The government of Guernsey has stated that the States demonstrate a “strong commitment” to addressing the pressures on the service. Commenting on these findings, Julie Richards, RCM director for Wales and the Channel Islands, remarked: “More women are choosing to start a family later, including in Guernsey where the age profile of women in pregnancy has increased.”This, alongside raised body mass index (BMI) among increasing numbers of women, brings with it added complexity during pregnancy. “Making sure that the island’s maternity service has the right skills mix, and the right number of midwives, to adapt to these changes is imperative. “The RCM wants to see continued commitment from the Bailiwick to invest in maternity services in Guernsey to meet these needs.” The RCM noted that the utilization of the service by women has remained consistent, with an average of 500 births annually. Furthermore, the RCM highlighted logistical challenges, specifically Guernsey’s ongoing support for pregnant women residing on Alderney, an island that lacks on-island delivery services. Although the RCM’s report indicated a satisfactory age distribution and skills balance within the midwifery workforce, it also advocated for enhancements to improve staff retention. The report pressed the States of Guernsey to intensify efforts “to understand the reasons why maternity staff sometimes choose to leave the island”. Currently, Guernsey provides rent allowances and bonuses to midwives during their initial four years of employment. Nevertheless, the RCM discovered that three-quarters of the individuals who departed the workforce in the five-year period ending March 2024 had been employed as local midwives for five years or fewer. The report also mentioned that housing expenses were identified as a potential impediment to long-term residency and employment on the island. Alex Hawkins-Drew, who serves as the head of public health for women and children’s services, stated that there would “continue to be demands on the service due to the national increase in health-related complexities that some service users live with”.”However, there is a strong local commitment, embedded in States of Guernsey strategies, to address this.”I am confident that with the ongoing support of all those working in maternity services, we will continue to support individuals to take steps to reduce personal health risks, which will benefit not only them but also their family.”