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Midwives ‘let down’ by Trust over jobs

24/ 8/2006

MIDWIVES who claim they were promised jobs at the end of their studies say they feel 'let down' by Pennine Acute Trust.

Recently-qualified Sharon Love, Cathy Earnshaw, Lorraine Dunn and Helen Greenwood spent the past three years training at hospitals while studying into the night.

But the quartet claim they cannot get a job at Trust hospitals in North Manchester, Rochdale, Bury or Oldham because of a vacancy freeze and face moving their families out of town.

Just nine out of 35 students on the course have got a job and the four were interviewed about their plight by the BBC's 'North West Tonight'.

Sharon Love, from Oldham, delivered 42 babies during her time at Rochdale Infirmary.

The mother-of-two said: "It costs £21,000 to train a midwife to degree level and I've had to take out a loan to cover the loss of a wage during my three years.

"I'm determined not to let it all go, I've worked too hard, but in two weeks' time I'll be out of work with no money coming in."

A Pennine Acute Trust spokesman said: "Newly-qualified staff are never 'promised' a job three years before they complete their training.

"It is obviously a very difficult time for trainees in this position and we're doing everything we can.

"However, we haven't said there are no jobs and when positions do become available, we'll be looking to recruit to them."