MIDWIFERY PARTNERSHIP

That this House notes that the midwifery profession has a long and valued tradition of collaborating with organisations representing users of the maternity services to ensure that mothers' and family needs are identified and met; further notes that the profession proposes a continued active partnership arrrangement with representatives of those organisations as part of the new statutory framework; and considers that future regulation of midwifery must recognise the uniqueness of the profession by the provision of a midwifery board which includes such lay user representatives as full members alongside the professionally qualified members.