§ Mr. Alan JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage health authorities and trusts to implement the National Health Service Executive recommendation of a minimum F grade for midwives on the clinical grading scale. [43153]
§ Mr. MilburnThe National Health Service Executive recommended in 1995 (Executive Letter (95)77) that an "F' or "G" grade, or equivalent, would normally be appropriate for posts in which a midwife, regardless of the route to registration, has a defined caseload of women to whom she/he gives the full range of midwifery care. The Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine recommended in January 1998 (paragraph 77) that
where midwives' roles have changed in line with the criteria given in EL(95)77, their pay and grading should reflect the fact. We therefore recommend that the Health Departments ensure implementation of the agreement EL(95)77 at Trust level.The Advance Letter promulgating the nurses' pay increase this year, to be distributed on 4 June, will draw this recommendation to the attention of employing authorities and ask them to act upon it.