Home births cover boost
While the National Birth Alliance described the move as a victory for independent midwifery yesterday, the INO stressed that the cover was only being extended by a further six months.
The INO said the period of cover was being provided to allow the State Claims Agency time to make arrangements to indemnity the small group of midwifes.
The nurses’ organisation had planned to withdraw cover midwives working independently in the community from the end of the month.
According to the alliance, the insurance package from the INO will cost midwives just 500 each for six months from the beginning of April.
About 300 women each year give birth at home.
“Mothers around the country who have booked the services of self-employed midwives can look forward to having their babies at home,” said midwife Philomena Canning. “Their dream of a home birth is one step closer.”
Fewer than 20 midwives are practicing in the community, and the annual cost of insurance cover, which is underwritten by Lloyds, is €1,000.
“The very low cost of this insurance package is a vote of confidence in the safety of our practice,” said Ms Canning.
INO deputy general secretary David Hughes said the cover was being extended until September, at which point the expectation was that the State Claims Agency would extend its indemnity scheme to cover independent midwives.
He pointed that other members of the health service were routinely covered by the State that was actively promoting home births.
Mr Hughes also pointed out that the INO gave the State Claims Agency three years notice of their intention to stop issuing independent midwives.
“It was the State’s responsibility all along to provide the insurance cover. What we are doing now is affording the State more time to make the necessary arrangements,” he said.
