Overview
  • Midwifery practice is governed by the framework laid down in the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997.

  • There is a regulating body, the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), which maintains a professional register of qualified midwives, publishes the Midwives Rules and Code of Practice (1998) and investigates allegations of professional misconduct.
The Act of Parliament makes provision for the statutory supervision of midwives through Local Supervising Authorities (LSA) for which responsibility is delegated to Health Authorities that are grouped to form regions.

In each region, a responsible midwifery officer (RMO) is appointed to whom every midwife must notify intention to practice midwifery each year.

The purpose of supervision is to maintain the highest standards of care for mothers and babies through evidence based practice. The LSA appoints supervisors at a local level to provide professional leadership in facilitating up-to-date, confident and competent practitioners in a culture of life long learning. The LSA maintains a database of supervisors and monitors effectiveness of the function through regular audit of standards. Critical incidents are fully investigated and lessons learned applied to practice.

Local supervisors can be contacted at hospitals providing maternity services.