Private Midwives acknowledges that our colleagues in the NHS are under a huge amount of pressure and in some areas, they are struggling to offer safe care and so the home birth or birth centre services have been reduced or have stopped altogether. Normally this is a last resort and a decision that the Trust has not taken lightly. We understand they are trying to maximise the safety for all concerned. We also understand that for some women, this removes their choices and they are desperately upset.
As an organisation, we are keen to support the NHS where we can. If we can help by stepping in to provide homebirths for NHS clients, we will. In some circumstances, the client approaches us directly and books private care. In other cases, we are prepared to explore us providing the NHS service in a sub-contracting arrangement.
There are costs to us to provide a service. This includes salary costs, travel expenses, equipment, medication, indemnity insurance, consumables etc. Below is an outline of the option we may be able to offer NHS organisations who are considering this sub-contract agreement.