Midwives want a seat at the table for boosting their work force in the long term.

It comes after the Government launched their workforce action plan - aiming to fill more than 8,000 vacancies of doctors, nurses and other health staff.

It includes boosting offshore recruitment, rural training, earn-as-you-learn schemes and wellbeing support.

College of Midwives Chief Executive Alison Eddy told Francesca Rudkin midwifery has had one of the most significant shortages in the health sector.

She says Government claims there's a 40 percent shortage but Eddy says it's likely higher.

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