Independent Self Employed Midwives are petitioning the Government to overturn an EU directive (2011/24/EU) which becomes effective in October 2013. It links a health care professional's registration to their Professional Indemnity Insurance making it impossible for independent midwives to work.
They protest that the current solution put forward to enable midwives to obtain indemnity by contracting in to NHS, does not take into account private clients and those Midwives who do not want to be employed but remain self employed. The petition calls for Government help 'in securing workable and affordable commercial insurance.' The petition has more than 6,450 signatures.