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Supervisors of Midwives
A midwife is a health professional who is uniquely qualified to provide support, care and advice to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and the post-partum period.
A midwife is recognised as being responsible and accountable for providing care in partnership with women which includes:
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health promotion, health counselling and health education
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promotion of normal birth (including conducting births on their own responsibility)
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birth preparation and early parenthood
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providing care for the newborn infant
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detecting abnormal conditions and accessing appropriate assistance
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carrying out emergency measures
The midwife is the senior professional attending over 75% of births in the United Kingdom (UK), however midwives work alongside other health professionals within a multi disciplinary team, including general practitioners, obstetricians, physiotherapists, paediatricians and health visitors. A Supervisor of Midwives supports each midwife in fulfilling these roles.
A Supervisor of Midwives is an experienced midwife who has undertaken extra training to become a supervisor and is accountable to the Local Supervising Authority (LSA) (see link below). In this role they support midwives in their practice, to ensure safe and good quality care is provided for women and their families.
A Supervisor of Midwives is available for both midwives and women to give advice and support in a private and confidential manner. They can be contacted by calling the hospital switchboard (01904 631313) and asking for the on call supervisor.
A Supervisor of Midwives can help you by:
Supporting you and your midwife throughout your pregnancy and birth.
Listening to any concerns you have about your maternity care.
Further information:
The Nursing and Midwifery Council have recently published a reviewed information booklet for parents about the role of supervisors and the LSA and the NMC, please click on the following link to access it:
Support for parents: how supervision and supervisors of midwives can help you.
