As a result of a number of investigations into major incidents involving maternity services, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) commissioned the independent King’s Fund to review statutory supervision of midwives in the UK. The review recommended that the NMC as the professional regulator of midwives should have direct responsibility and accountability solely for the core functions of regulation and that the NMC’s relevant legislation should be revised to reflect this. The Government accepted this recommendation.
Proposals have been developed with UK midwifery leaders and stakeholders which introduce overarching principles for a new system of midwifery supervision, which will be put in place when statutory supervision is removed. This will meet the need for clinical supervision for midwives in clinical practice and peer review for practising midwives who are not in clinical practice. The NMC will focus on using its regulatory functions to protect the public and ensure high quality care and treatment across the country. Each country in the UK has convened a taskforce to examine and embed the new principles and oversee the transition to an employer led, professional model of supervision.
Although statutory elements of supervision will disappear, it is for employers to decide how to effect the changes relating to those midwifery posts which are currently part of the statutory system of supervision. These legislative changes do not mean an end to supervision, only to its statutory components. The developmental and supportive nature of supervision is important to the profession and for outcomes to women and babies.
The draft legislation bringing about these changes to statute is currently subject to a full public consultation. The public consultation is open until 17th June 2016, if you would like to read more about the consultation, or respond to the proposed changes, then more details can be found here.
By Patrick McLoughlin on May 27, 2016