Midwives (Hansard, 29 November 1989)

§ Mr. Battle
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will negotiate midwives' pay independently with representatives of midwives.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The pay of midwives is determined on the advice of the pay review body, established in 1983 for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine. The review body is independent and free to determine its own methods of working and to take evidence from interested parties, including a number of trade unions who have midwives in membership.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many midwives are currently undergoing training for the advanced diploma in midwifery; and how many of these receive financial assistance from their local health authority;
(2) what guidance he has issued to health authorities about assistance and support to be given to midwives studying for the advanced diploma in midwifery; and if he has any plans to issue new guidance;
300W
(3) what is his policy on the value of the advanced diploma in midwifery;
(4) what steps he is taking to encourage midwives to undertake further training to improve their qualifications.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The advanced diploma in midwifery (ADM) is a recordable qualification on the register maintained by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, which is an independent statutory body. It is evidence of professional development for midwives whether in clinical practice, management or teaching. It is also an entry requirement to midwife teacher training.
It is for health authorities to determine the extent to which they should fund midwives to undertake training in the ADM in the light of the needs of the service locally. Information supplied by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting shows that there were 141 entrants to training for the ADM in the year ending 31 March 1989. Information is not held centrally on how many midwives currently taking the ADM receive financial assistance from their local health authority.
No guidance has been issued to authorities on financial assistance to midwives who study for the ADM. However, the Department has commissioned the South Bank polytechnic to develop an open learning package for the ADM, with funding of £175,850 for that purpose. In addition, South East Thames regional health authority has been provided with £52,614 this year, for the South Bank polytechnic to develop a two-year part-time course for the ADM.