MIDWIVES are “struggling to cope” in maternity units that are “creaking at the seams,” their union said yesterday after a study revealed the impact of budget cuts.

Two in every five units have had to close their doors to new mums-to-be in the last year due to being unable to deal with demand.

Royal College of Midwives (RCM) chief executive Cathy Warwick warned that mistakes would “almost certainly” be made if the shortage of resources was not addressed.

The RCM’s survey of heads of midwifery found that two thirds said that on-call community staff had had to be called in to cover delivery suites.

Labour shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander slammed David Cameron for “failing” to recruit the 3,000 extra midwives he had promised.

“If mums are to feel comfortable with midwives they know and trust, this staffing issue must be addressed,” she said.

A tenth of senior midwives said they had to reduce services over the last year, leading to reductions in specialist midwives, parent classes and breastfeeding support.

A third said they were unable to do their jobs to a decent standard, while two-thirds said they could not meet all the conflicting demands on their time.

Some reported having to provide additional midwifery services without any extra budget.

“The government is responsible for this and it is they who are letting down women, babies and their families, as well as the staff they purport to value,” said Ms Warwick.