Midwives are being left on their own to look after up to 15 women and their babies, a report warns.

Some maternity units are now so overstretched that midwives are quitting for fear of making 'tragic mistakes'.

The Royal College of Midwives also warns departments are 'dangerous' and 'stressful' with 'epidemic' levels of bullying.

Midwives are being left on their own to look after up to 15 women and their babies, a report warns (file photo)

As a result, a report by the RCM today claims that the NHS is facing an exodus of overworked and demoralised midwives.

Later this week the NHS will publish the first ever Ofsted-style ratings for maternity care for every health trust in England.

They will each be given a grade ranging from outstanding to inadequate based on safety and women's overall experience.

But a survey of 2,719 midwives by the RCM found that many are finding it increasingly difficult to properly care for women and babies.

Although the Government has recently recruited more midwives, the RCM has repeatedly warned that this hasn't kept pace with demand.

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said it was 'worrying' that so many had quit

It comes as maternity units are under severe pressure due to migration and the higher numbers of older and obese women having complex labours.

A third of midwives in today's survey had resigned while two thirds were planning to do so. The poll aimed to establish their reasons for leaving.

One midwife who had quit an unnamed hospital within the last six months said she was left on her own looking after 15 mothers and their newborns.

Guidelines recommend that midwives have no more than six mothers and their babies at a time – or ideally just four.

The same individual said the hospital was short of 30 full-time midwives and that she often worked 12-and-a-half hours without a break. Another midwife, who is planning to leave within the next 18 months, said: 'I am tired and worn out and am concerned that if this continues I might make a tragic mistake.'

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: 'That so many midwives have left or intend to leave is dispiriting and worrying.

'I read the comments of the midwives in the report with increasing distress and concern, for them and for mothers and babies. Maternity services are performing as well as they are on the backs of the selfless dedication of midwives and other staff, and their capacity to go that extra mile for mothers and babies, day after day.

Although the Government has recently recruited more midwives, the RCM has repeatedly warned that this hasn't kept pace with demand

'However, this shows that many cannot fight that battle any longer. Enormous demands are being made on midwives and the services they work for, yet investment from the Government remains inadequate to provide the quality of care that women deserve.'

Earlier this week Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt launched a fast-track compensation scheme for babies disabled by maternity blunders. The new process will also see doctors who own up to mistakes given a certain amount of legal protection.

There are currently 25,800 midwives in England – although the College claims there should be an additional 2,600.

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We want midwives to feel proud of their work and that they have enough time and support to give good care.