NURSERY and midwifery training at the University of Worcester has received the highest possible rating in a recent inspection.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) rated the university’s provision as ‘good’, the best possible grade, in all five areas of its annual monitoring review.

The Royal College of Midwives recently warned more midwives were needed as services across the UK were at breaking point.

Midwifery at the university is oversubscribed with a 30 per cent rise in applications in 2009/10 in recent years.

At the same time the number of midwifery places the university is commissioned to offer has since been cut by 29 per cent by the strategic health authority, from 52 in 2009/10 to just 37 for 2011/12, following region-wide cutbacks.

Professor David Green, vice chancellor of the university, said it was the only place to train midwives in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

“This year we already have 24 applicants for every place we have to offer.

"We would love to offer more opportunities to these outstanding, highly motivated potential applicants,” he said.

The NMC inspection report particularly praised the university’s close links with hospitals, health centres and other institutions.

Jan Quallington, the university’s associate head of institute (quality and student experience) of health and society, said: “A perfect five puts us among the best providers of midwifery education in Britain.”