The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Midwives) Rules Order of Council 2004

(dd)

“childbirth” includes the antenatal, intranatal and postnatal periods;

“education” includes training;

“emergency” means a sudden, unexpected, event relating to the health or condition of a woman or baby which requires immediate attention;

“local supervising authority midwifery officer” means the midwifery officer appointed by a local supervising authority in accordance with rule 13(1);

“main area of practice” means the geographical location where the midwife has, or will be, practising most often in the 12 month period related to the most recent notification of intention to practise;

“midwifery programme of education” means an integrated theoretical and clinical practice programme that meets the standards established by the Council under article 15(1)(a) of the Order;

“the Order” means the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001;

“postnatal period” means the period after the end of labour during which the attendance of a midwife upon a woman and baby is required, being not less than 10 days and for such longer period as the midwife considers necessary;

“practising midwife” means a registered midwife who notifies her intention to practise to a local supervising authority and who has updated her practice in accordance with the standards published by the Council, and who—

(a)

is in attendance upon a woman and baby during the antenatal, intranatal or postnatal period; or

(b)

holds a post for which a midwifery qualification is required;

“supervisor of midwives” means a person appointed by a local supervising authority to exercise supervision over midwives practising in its area in accordance with rule 11(1); and

“woman and baby” means any woman, regardless of her age, and where reference is made to “baby” in conjunction with “woman”, it shall be taken as including reference to the woman’s unborn baby during the antenatal and intranatal periods.

Notification of intention to practise

3.—(1) If a midwife intends either to be in attendance upon a woman or baby during the antenatal, intranatal or postnatal period or to hold a post for which a midwifery qualification is required she shall give notice in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) A midwife shall give notice under paragraph (1) to each local supervising authority in whose area she intends to practise or continue to practise 3/4

(a)before commencing to practise there; and thereafter

(b)in respect of each period of 12 months beginning on a date which the Council shall specify from time to time.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2), the notice to be given under paragraph (1) may, in an emergency, be given after the time when she commences to practise provided that it is given within 48 hours of that time.

(4) A notice to be given under this rule shall contain such particulars and be in such form as the Council may from time to time specify.

Notifications by local supervising authority

4.—(1) A local supervising authority shall publish—

(a)the name and address of its midwifery officer for the submission of a notice under rule 3(1);

(b)the date by which a midwife must give notice under rule 3(1) in accordance with rule 3(2)(b).

(2) Each local supervising authority shall inform the Council, in such form and at such frequency as requested by the Council, of any notice given to it under rule 3.