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
Mica Paris, Is Facebook dangerous for kids? Regretting your tattoos
Imelda Staunton on depicting Queen Elizabeth II
The future of embryo research, Ofsted inspections, British Gymnastics' complaints procedure
Cancer during pregnancy, Israel-Gaza, Wedding dresses
Ruth Perry's sister, City Girl in Nature, Caring for a spouse, The politics of Christmas presents
Ruth Perry's sister Julia Waters, America Ferrera, 'Stuffed'
Conductor Marin Alsop, actor Diana Quick and a campaign to protect domestic abuse victims
Julianne Moore, Dame Mary Berry, Prevalence of forced sterilisation
Women's Football, Head of Ofcom, The politics of Christmas presents
Stella Creasy MP, Living with one breast, City Girl in Nature
Weekend Woman's Hour: Emily Blunt, Stammering, Long-distance friendships, Maria Callas' legacy
Director Adura Onashile, Grieving and Christmas Shopping, Maria Callas's Centenary
Emily Blunt, Pathologist-novelist, Baby formula, Short marriages
British Gymnastics and safeguarding, Long-distance friendships, Myha’la, Hunters, Hockey kits
Parenting a child with a stammer, EHRC Chair Baroness Falkner, Ukrainian chess player Kamila Hryshchenko
Dame Harriet Walter, Runner Eilish McColgan, Post-mastectomy bras
Weekend Woman's Hour: Sharon Osbourne, Jodie Whittaker and Outgoing Chief Inspectorate of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman
Sharon Osbourne, Shani Dhanda, Nurses and their mental health
Jodie Whittaker, Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman
Deepfake pornography, Professor Yvonne Doyle – lessons from the pandemic, Pianist Chloe Flower
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Global News Podcast
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins