The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001

PART VIII MIDWIFERY

The Midwifery Committee

41.—(1) The role of the Midwifery Committee shall be to advise the Council, at the Council’s request or otherwise, on any matters affecting midwifery.

(2) The Council shall consult the Midwifery Committee on the exercise of its functions in so far as it affects midwifery including any proposal to make rules under article 42.

Rules as to midwifery practice

42.—(1) In addition to its functions under other provisions in this Order, the Council shall by rules regulate the practice of midwifery and the rules may in particular—

(a) determine the circumstances in which and the procedure by means of which a midwife may be suspended from practice;

(b) require midwives to give notice of their intention to practise to the local supervising authority (referred to in this Part as “the LSA”) for the area in which they intend to practise;

(c) require midwives to attend courses of instruction in accordance with the rules.

(2) If rules are made requiring midwives to give the notice referred to in paragraph (1)(b), the LSA shall inform the Council of any notice given to it under those rules.

Local supervision of midwives

43.—(1) Each LSA shall—

(a) exercise general supervision in accordance with the rules made under article 42 over all midwives practising in its area;

(b) where it appears to it that the fitness to practise of a midwife in its area is impaired, report it to the Council; and

(c) have power in accordance with the rules made under article 42 to suspend a midwife from practice.

(2) The Council may prescribe the qualifications of persons who may be appointed by the LSA to exercise supervision over midwives in its area, and no one shall be so appointed who is not so qualified.

(3) The Council shall by rules from time to time establish standards for the exercise by LSAs of their functions and may give guidance to LSAs on these matters.