§ 50. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Health whether the National Health Service is fully staffed with midwives; and whether part-time retired midwives are required and recruited to support the hospital and domiciliary services.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonSome hospitals and local health authorities need more mid-wives. The number employed part-time by hospitals has risen by 70 per cent. in the last five years, but separate figures for part-time domiciliary midwives are not available. I expect that the midwifery service, like nursing, will become increasingly dependent on part-time staff.
§ Dame Irene WardMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why in answer to Questions last week he put midwives at a disadvantage compared with State-registered nurses? Are they not both required to have skills? Why denigrate the midwives by reducing their allowances when training as midwives after having become State registered?
§ Mr. RobinsonI did not denigrate midwives either directly or by implication in what I said last week. All I said was that if they are to work as midwives, then hospitals are allowed to second them for training without their having to be put on the normal training allowances.