§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts in England(a) have and (b) have not implemented the Government's recommendation to ensure that midwives working as the lead professional are awarded the minimum F-grade salary. [62951]
§ Mr. MilburnIn July 1995, following the publication of the Changing Childbirth report in 1993, the National Health Service Executive issued Executive Letter (95)77 to trusts, suggesting that an 'F' or "G' grade would normally be appropriate for posts in which a midwife has a defined caseload of women to whom she/he gives the full range of midwifery care. Many NHS trusts have reviewed midwifery services and grading since Changing Childbirth. In January 1998 the Nursing Pay Review Body recommended that the Health Departments ensure the implementation of EL(95)77 at trust level and Advance Letter (Nurses/Midwives) 1/98 was issued on 4 June 1998 asked employing authorities to act upon this recommendation. Subsequently the NHS Executive wrote to NHS trusts in June 1998 asking about midwives' grading with reference to EL(95)77. We have summarized186W responses in supplementary evidence to the Nursing Pay Review Body, copies of which are available in the Library.