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"we didn't need to chain ourselves to railings.....but we would have done"

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"so many turned out to support us and we made a lot of noise....but we got heard !!"

Autumn 2006

Difficulties ahead

Some Independent Midwives received correspondence from the department of health (DOH) informing them that within a 12-18 month period the law was changing and indemnity insurance (PII) would be mandatory for all health care professionals. This was obviously a concern as independent midwives were well aware that PII was and is unavailable globally.  This spurred the Independent Midwives Association, (IMA) as it was then, to launch a very successful campaign to highlight the problems we and women choosing our services, may well face in the very near future, should legislation go ahead without regard to our situation. The IMA did not object to the law being changed, as they had been trying to obtain PII for many years without sucsessc but they objected to being left unable to practice. A solution was needed.

A plan was needed

The organisation met and formed a plan. Lots of media coverage was needed to hightlight the problem, independent  midwives and the future of the women they care for, needed women, families and anyone who would listen to support the campaign.