Claims of a midwife crisis in western Sydney maternity wards will be fully investigated, NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner says.


Two heavily pregnant women were turned away from Nepean Hospital within 48 hours and there are allegations of a midwife shortage at Westmead and Liverpool hospitals, as Fairfax Media reports.


It says internal documents show Nepean's maternity department is short of about 20 full-time positions and insiders are warning of an exodus of discontented maternity staff.


Ms Skinner told reporters in Sydney it wasn't appropriate for her to comment on "specifics".


"These matters will be fully investigated," she said.


"I would say to expectant mothers there is no need to be concerned," Ms Skinner said.


"While these matters must be investigated fully it must be made clear that these are two incidents across the large number of births in NSW hospitals each day."


Ms Skinner said the government hoped to have 15 additional midwife positions filled by April.


There was also a need to encourage more young people to study midwifery, particularly in rural areas, she said.


AAP