§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure the separate registration of midwives under the new Nursing and Midwifery Council; and if he will make a statement; [138874]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the new Nursing and Midwifery Council will maintain midwifery as a distinct profession. [138873]
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§ Yvette CooperWe propose that midwives should be separately registered and represented, and that existing provisions concerning the practice of their profession should continue.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that health authorities involve users in the planning, development and auditing of midwifery services. [138875]
§ Yvette CooperEvery health authority has a maternity services liaison committee (MSLC) where commissioners, providers and users of maternity services develop services in partnership. MSLCs enable users to influence their own care as well as the development of local and national standards and policy, in line with the patient focus of the NHS Plan.