26 Feb 2007 : Column 1119W-continued
Midwives: Insurance
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her
Department has to require practising midwives to have professional indemnity
cover; what assessment she has made of the impact of such a policy on the
viability of independent midwifery services; what steps she has taken to
explore the possibility of arranging or facilitating the provision of
professional indemnity cover to independent midwives; and if she will make a
statement. [122282]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 22 February 2007]: All registered healthcare
professionals will be required to have professional indemnity insurance to
protect the public in the event of a claim for negligence. The
implementation of this policy under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 is
through legislative opportunity as it arises.
All national health service employed practitioners will have indemnity as
part of their contracts. Options for independent midwives include developing
contracts with NHS employers such as the Albany model in south London,
pursuing a social enterprise model, and setting up individual contracts with
an NHS trust.
While it is important to consider independent midwives, especially in
relation to extended choice and diversity of provision, it cannot be at the
cost of safety to the woman.
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