News - Independent midwives study update

Flaxman Partners’ feasibility study on insuring independent midwives has drawn the conclusion that unless midwives wishing to practice outside the NHS are prepared to practice as employees of a limited company or similar - which creates a vicarious liability for the employer - it will not be possible for them to obtain professional negligence insurance.

The Royal College of Midwives and the Nursing and Midwifery Council commissioned the report at the end of 2010 in anticipation of the EU directive requiring all health professionals to have indemnity cover from April 2013.

Commenting on the report in Post magazine, Roger Flaxman said: “We have come up with a pragmatic solution. It won’t suit everybody as some midwives won’t want to work for somebody else but the insurance industry is unwilling to take on the risk because defending a claim against an independent midwife practicing alone is notoriously difficult and costly.”