‘Independent midwives need hospital test access’

THE Dublin City Coroner has recommended the development of national guidelines to allow independent midwives access to services at maternity hospitals.

Dr Brian Farrell told Dublin City Coroner’s Court yesterday he would write to the Department of Health, the HSE and An Bord Altranais with a view to establishing guidelines which would allow independent midwives to access facilities, such as scans and blood tests, for their patients at maternity hospitals.

Currently, independent midwives, of which there are about 18, advise their clients to seek the scans and tests independently at hospital, without their support.