§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will include in the Summer guidance on Consultation on Primary Care Groups a statement on how midwives will be included in consultations and subsequent local structures of primary care groups; [49175]
(2) what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that midwives are integrated into clinical governance arrangements for primary care groups; [49172]
(3) what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that primary care groups develop effective mechanisms for providing women's choice in NHS maternity services; [49174]
(4) what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that midwives can take on lead operational roles regarding maternity services in primary care groups; [49171]
(5) if he will issue advice to all health authorities and trusts that midwives should be included in consultations and subsequent local structures of primary care groups; [49176]
(6) what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that primary care groups develop effective mechanisms for quality assurance in NHS maternity services. [49173]
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§ Mr. MilburnMidwives will have important contributions to make to the functions of Primary Care Groups. Guidance on Primary Care Groups to be issued this summer will include advice to health authorities, National Health Service trusts and all involved in forming Primary Care Groups on how midwives will be included in consultations and subsequent local structures. The guidance will make clear that Primary Care Group tasks must be undertaken by those with the greatest knowledge and experience of the field concerned: midwives will clearly need to be involved in planning and providing maternity services. The principle of high-quality woman-centred maternity care is now embedded in mainstream maternity services, and midwives working with their Primary Care Groups will be well placed to pursue this. We have made it clear that we expect the principles of clinical governance to be applied in primary care as well as in the acute hospital sector; and that Primary Care Groups will need to demonstrate progress in this area as a condition of progressing to trust status. Clinical governance arrangements should involve all groups of staff engaged in the provision of clinical care.