Our Campaign
In 2006 the present Government proposed legislative changes for all Health Care professionals, which if implemented would have resulted in the immediate demise of Independent Midwives in the UK.
A campaign for the survival of Independent Midwifery was launched by Independent Midwives-UK (IM-UK), formally the Independent Midwives Association. The Campaign was joined by clients, past and present, politicians, professional organizations, celebrities and members of the public.
Over the next two years campaigners wrote hundreds of letters, met with politicians, attended meetings and marches, organized a 10 Downing Street Petition which received over 9000 signatures, and even organized the London Premier, and country wide screenings of the Rikki Lake movie The Business of Being Born.
The message, that women in the UK supported the Independent Midwifery model of care, was made loud and clear and IM-UK is pleased to report that progress on several fronts is being made. We are now actively working with the Government to bring forward legislation which will allow Primary Care Trusts,(PCT) to contract the services of local Independent Midwives for NHS women.
If Independent Midwives contract their services to a PCT the resulting model of care will be very similar to the Community Midwifery Model that Independent Midwives have been championing for many years.
We are still seeking commercial insurance as we feel that women in the UK, if they so wish, should retain the right to seek midwifery care outside of the NHS.
The campaign, however, is not yet over and the future of Independent Midwifery in the UK is not yet secure. Read more about the campaign history and where we are at currently to continue your support.