Madam, – As a nursing practitioner working in practice with a GP, I am ethically and legally required to be professionally indemnified. I have no doubt that all nurses and midwives working in the community are bound by the same requirements. Out- patients need the same safeguards from human error as all others.
I take exception to Dr Ruairi Hanley’s rather polemical and denigratory sentiments (April 25th) about choices in childbirth and in particular his attitude to midwives whose role he sees as ably “assisting” brilliant medical obstetricians. The childbirth debate should not be conducted as an either/or choice. Both obstetricians and midwives are essential for healthy outcomes.
A healthy pregnancy followed by an uncomplicated labour process doesn’t necessarily require obstetric input. The midwife is the professional of choice in this situation, as her speciality is assisting a woman to give birth in normal circumstances.
Where complications arise or risk increases obstetric care is warranted and vital for the best outcome.
Care should be provided in an atmosphere of mutual respect and partnership between expert professionals, with no discipline less or more valuable than the other. Our disciplines are by their very nature interdependent.
I would welcome the development of birthing centres, which would increase the choice available to pregnant women. The centres would be midwife-led with obstetric back-up where necessary. Birthing centres would be most appropriate for low-risk pregnancies. They would be low-cost, low-tech and less intimidating alternatives to our established medical-led maternity hospitals. Both models would have a valuable role to play in a modern, knowledge-based, pro-choice society. And most of all, what I would love to see is an obstetrician ably assisting a brilliant midwife. – Yours, etc,