An independent midwife is a fully qualified, registered midwife who works outside the NHS, offering private one-to-one care throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. Unlike NHS midwives who manage large caseloads, an independent midwife works exclusively with you — meaning you see the same familiar face at every appointment, and the same midwife attends your birth. This continuity of care is proven to reduce complications and improve outcomes for both mother and baby.

European legislation requires all practising midwives to hold Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII). While this is a reasonable requirement in principle, no insurance provider currently offers a viable, affordable PII product for independent midwives in the UK. Without insurance they cannot legally practice, and without a commercial solution from the insurance industry, the entire profession faces extinction — not due to poor practice, but due to a regulatory gap.

We are asking the Government and the Department of Health to work with the Independent Midwives Association to find a practical solution that fulfils the policy’s aims without eliminating independent midwifery entirely. This could mean a state-backed indemnity scheme, a regulatory exemption, or a collaborative insurance model. We are also calling on MPs, professional bodies and the public to apply pressure and demand a fair outcome for midwives and the families they serve.