§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to encourage health authorities and trusts to offer midwife-only beds and midwife-only care to low-risk pregnant women in all maternity units.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn September 1992, the national health service management executive wrote to all regional general managers listing issues needing to be kept under review. The list included the development of midwife led maternity services. More recently, in August 1993, the expert maternity group report "Changing Childbirth" emphasised that there are no legal restrictions preventing midwives from admitting women in labour to maternity unit beds. The report recommended, among other things, that the national health service should ensure that women can book with a midwife for their entire episode of care if that is what they want. This report has been the subject of wide consultation and comments on the report are being given careful consideration in the Department. Specific action to be taken in the national health service will be notified as soon as Ministers have completed their consideration of the responses to the report. Copies of both the letter and the report are available in the Library.