Health: Midwives

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Christopher

Tuesday 22nd July 2014 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, we naturally applaud the professionalism of independent midwives. I agree with my noble friend that it is a positive step forward that all healthcare professionals in this country have professional indemnity insurance. We must think of the patient always and, should something go wrong, it is right that every patient is protected by indemnity or insurance.

[Lord Christopher (Lab)]

My Lords, is the Minister content that the measure of training, related only to the birth rate, is adequate? Should we not build in wastage?

[Earl Howe]

I am not sure that I completely heard the noble Lord’s question. Could he please repeat it?

[Lord Christopher]

Is a measure of the numbers training which is related only to the birth rate adequate, unless you also build in the wastage rate?

[Earl Howe]

The noble Lord makes a good point about building in a wastage rate. Since 2010, the number of midwives has increased by 5.75% and the number of births has decreased by 3.3%. This is why I indicated in my earlier answer that we were, in that sense, ahead of the curve. There is a great deal of work going on to ensure that there is no attrition or wastage during the training period, as this is a waste of the person’s skills and taxpayers’ money.