§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the proportion of the 105,000 general practitioners who received a fee in 1977 for responsibility for confinement who were themselves the actual accoucheurs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleIn 1977, 105,000 maternity medical services fees in respect of responsibility for confinement were paid to general medical practitioners in England. There is no basis for estimating in what proportion of these cases the practitioner undertook the delivery.
In undertaking to provide services for which complete maternity medical services fees are payable, the practitioner assumes responsibility for ensuring that good maternal and early neonatal care is provided in each case, and this will include making suitable arrangements so that he, or a suitable experienced deputy, is always available if summoned by the midwife during the confinement. Whether the practitioner rather than the midwife undertakes a delivery is a matter for the practitioner's clinical judgment.