In the absence of increased staffing, midwives will benefit from a salary increase.

These professionals working at the hospital will receive from January a bonus of 100 euros net and a salary increase of approximately 100 euros gross per month, announced Thursday, September 16 the Ministry of Health, Olivier Véran.

These revaluations, which will be included in the Social Security budget for 2022, were unveiled during a meeting with the midwifery unions.

They will represent an additional expenditure of 40 million euros per year, the minister's office told AFP.

Three quarters of the 23,500 midwives will benefit from it, for a monthly gain equivalent to the increase of 183 euros net already granted to all hospital staff at the end of 2020 as part of the "Ségur de la santé".

A sort of catching-up for the profession, forgotten by the overhaul of salary scales negotiated for nurses and nursing aides, among others.

"The midwives may have felt left out," admits the minister's entourage.

In fact, these caregivers have already taken to the streets five times since the start of the year, to demand recognition and staff.

Forgotten claims

Their skills will also be extended to new areas, such as endometriosis, and the ministry intends to facilitate the creation of "birth centers" managed by midwives.

However, not all of their demands were met.

Their request for a "tailor-made" status was thus dismissed, Olivier Véran preferring to "consolidate their medical status within the hospital public service", in particular through this "significant upgrading".

These announcements were received coldly by the National Council of the Order of Midwives, which considers in a press release that they do not meet "the challenges of the profession".

"By not dealing in depth with the causes of midwifery discomfort, the attractiveness of the profession seems to be lastingly compromised. By ignoring the growing problems of staff in maternity hospitals, the essential question of the safety and quality of care for patients and newborns remains unresolved, "argues the instance.

The National Council, "which had already alerted the public authorities to the shortage of midwives and the exhaustion of these professionals, is alarmed by the consequences of these announcements on the future of maternity hospitals".

With AFP

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