One in 10 A+E posts is vacant - does an over reliance on agency staff risk patient safety? The pressure group Patients First says it does. Also, staffing shortages are having an impact on other high-pressured medical environments - maternity and neo-natal units. The Royal College of Midwives says there is a shortage of 5,000 midwives. Also, baby care units struggle to maintain recommended minimum levels of staffing.