The number of midwives in England has increased by just 7% over the last year and some NHS Trusts in England have more than one in five midwifery jobs vacant, according to BBC research. The Royal College of Midwives says staffing gaps have to close. The BBC’s Health Correspondent Catherine Burns joins Clare McDonnell to talk about what her investigation into maternity units in England has discovered, and to share the story of Farzana, who had to give birth on her own after midwives said they were too busy to answer her calls.
Carole Stone must have one of the best address books ever. A former producer of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions, for years Carole has run 'salons' and parties bringing together hundreds of interesting people - politicians, actors, journalists. Carole’s partner, the TV broadcaster Richard Lindley, died four years ago. Carole joins Clare to discuss how and why she is looking for another soulmate at the age of 81.
Could the next leader of North Korea be a woman? Clare gets the latest from lead correspondent at NK News, Jeongmin Kim, and hears more about what life is like for women on the ground with North Korea expert, Professor Hazel Smith.
As the number of pupils missing a significant amount of their education is about double the level it was before the pandemic, Clare is joined by Ellie Costello, the executive director of Square Peg, a not-for-profit which helps families that struggle with school attendance.
It’s 60 years this week since Jackie, the magazine for teenage girls, was first published. At its peak, it was selling more than a million copies a week. To celebrate the anniversary, Clare is joined by Nina Myskow, Jackie’s first female editor, and Wendy Rigg, a teenage fan who achieved her dream of working on Jackie.
Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Lottie Garton
Carry On women, Unexpected news at baby scans
Angela Rippon, Jamie Bernstein on Maestro, Scorchio! The history of The Weather Girl
Weekend Woman's Hour: Dame Kelly Holmes, justice secretary Alex Chalk, history of eyeliner
Life and work of photographer Tish Murtha, Sitcom Such Brave Girls, Finding your dress shape
Dr Who actor Jemma Redgrave on the show's new 60th anniversary shows and the history of eyeliner
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk on sentencing reforms
Dame Kelly Holmes, Cabinet reshuffle, Debenhams picketers
Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary, Natalie Cassidy, Breast Cancer treatment
Weekend Woman's Hour: Perinatal pelvic health, ‘Grey pound’ fashion, Jilly Cooper, Swearing, Hot flushes
Swearing, Women in north east India, The 'grey pound' and fashion, A story of brutal crime, forgiveness and empathy
Nour Swirki in Gaza, Baroness Falkender's secrets, Divorce, Alzheimer's, Hot flushes
Jilly Cooper, Rachel Goldberg – mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Women & binge drinking, Perinatal pelvic health service.
Caster Semenya, King's Speech, Jude Rogers on Kirsty MacColl
MP rape allegations, Mothers' march, Melissa Caddick
Weekend Woman's Hour: Author Alex O'Brien on what playing poker can teach you, Maternity care & Sprinter Bianca Williams
Cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Women & renting, Catherine Dalton cricketer, Women's peace petition, Maggie Murphy CEO, Lewes FC
Covid Inquiry, Child-free friends, Afghans in Pakistan, Alison Larkin
AI and child sexual abuse, Alex O’Brien, Molly Manning Walker
Failures in maternity care, Spain's Princess Leonor turns 18, Women's Ballon d'Or
Bianca Williams, Sandra Hüller, Living with your parents too long
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