Health Regulator Responds To King's Fund Report On Midwifery Services, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 04 Mar 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) welcomes the King's Fund independent review into Safe Birth released recently.

The results are largely positive which is encouraging considering the fast pace with which the provision of healthcare is changing. There are increased pressures on healthcare providers to improve their services and this report demonstrates that despite concerns over the safety of maternity services, the vast majority of births in England are conducted safely.

NMC Head of Midwifery, Christina McKenzie said: "This report has highlighted a number of key issues that challenge the effectiveness of maternity services and while the report is specific to maternity services in England there will be learning for maternity service providers all four countries.

We welcome the recommendations made in the report and hope that trusts and local supervising authorites will take them on board and incorporate them into their risk management strategy and local service delivery policies.

Our role as regulator is to ensure that those on the register are fit and safe to practise, a duty that we deliver through the standards we set for education or practice such as the 'Midwives rules and standards'. Midwives are in a unique position as they have a named supervisor of midwives who they can turn to for independent professional advice and support.

Supervisors of midwives are responsible to Local Supervising Authorities (LSAs. These organisations oversee geographical areas and are responsible for monitoring and supporting safe midwifery practice regardless of the setting. In England the LSAs sit within the strategic health authorities; in Northern Ireland - the health & social services boards; in Scotland - the health boards and in Wales - Health Inspectorate Wales.

Local supervising authority midwifery officers (LSAMOs) act as an essential point of contact for supervisors of midwives to consult for advice on aspects of supervision. This is particularly useful for difficult or challenging situations in their work. LSAMOS provide leadership, support and guidance on a range of matters including professional development and women seeking help or support concerning the provision of their midwifery care can also contact the LSAMO directly."

The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practise within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 686,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

Nursing & Midwifery Council