This paper outlines the challenges of workforce planning in maternity services, particularly in intrapartum care, where demand is highly variable. It discusses some of the key features particular to maternity workforce planning such as the gold standard of providing 1:1 midwifery care, the transfer of care from one community area to a different secondary care area and the “hidden” workload undertaken in intrapartum care units managing patients who are not in labour.

It discusses methods for measuring this demand and flexibly responding to it via workforce planning and the benefit this can bring to deliver safer maternity care.