Government in midwifery u-turn

The Royal College of Midwives argued GPs are not experts in commissioning such services and questioned the Government's commitment to giving women the highest standards of care.

The Department of Health's White Paper says responsibility for commissioning maternity services will be the remit of the new national NHS Commissioning Board.

But the Nursing Times has reported that the Government wants to hand control to the GP groups set to take over commissioning in 2012.

The NT said senior Department of Health sources were saying the Government now intends maternity to be part of local GP commissioning – a significant U-turn on current plans.

The National Childbirth Trust agreed. A spokeswoman said: "Our very strong view is GPs are not the right people to commission maternity services."

"It would be extremely dangerous. There is good evidence women prefer to deal with midwives."