Midwives, obstetricians and general practitioners: the need for role clarification

The data showed that a substantial proportion of midwives worked in situations in which some of their clinical responsibilities were restricted by the extent to which medical staff were involved in the management of normal maternity care, particularly in the antenatal period.

Abstract

Data on the inter-relationship of the responsibilities of midwives and medical staff were obtained in the course of a national survey by questionnaire of hospital and community midwives and other health professionals involved in maternity care. The data showed that a substantial proportion of midwives worked in situations in which some of their clinical responsibilities were restricted by the extent to which medical staff were involved in the management of normal maternity care, particularly in the antenatal period. The data also showed that medical staff were significantly less likely than midwives to indicate that midwives were responsible for managing normal antepartum and intrapartum care. Some of the implications of the survey data for the role of the midwife are considered.