Re: Insurance for independant midwives

[Guest guest]

> From: DebSlater@...

> Thought you may be interested to know that independent midwives here in

> Western Australia can no longer find an insurance company to provide them

> with professional liability cover.

When the Ind.MW I was thinking of booking told me that she didn't have

insurance I checked this out with Clare from the IMA and she said that there

is only one independent midwife known to them that is insured and that is

Carolyn Flint. Apparently this is reflected in her charges, her costs are

double other independent midwives.

Clare went on to explain that that insurance only covers the midwife if she

has done something wrong and it is very difficult to sue because someone has

to prove negligence. She also made the point that there are few cases

against midwives because the care involves working with the couple and their

choices unlike Dr who give drugs and do operations.

Jenni

(& Gethyn) 17yrs, Mari 3yrs (H/B), Babi Bach exp.09/2001 = 34wks+

" If you don't know your options - you don't have any "

[Guest guest]

I think it's very similar here. When I was looking for my independent

midwife (just over two years ago - where did *that* time go!!) the only one

listed locally had just stopped practising independently as she'd been

quoted £12000 annual premium for her liability insurance.

I think a lot of them practise without insurance and just hope that they

won't ever need it.

Vicki Portman

http://www.plushpants.co.uk

Insurance for independant midwives

> Thought you may be interested to know that independent midwives here in

> Western Australia can no longer find an insurance company to provide them

> with professional liability cover. The reason given is that there are so

few

> midwives to provide the premium to cover even a single negligence claim.

>

> Now that reasoning doesn't seem to stand up to scrutiny - for one, why

> couldn't they just cover any claim from the profits that they make from

other

> areas, and, secondly it appears that there hasn't been any claims anyway

for

> many, many years !

>

> However, it looks like the State Government will intervene to provide some

> cover themselves.

>

> I sign of things to come however ?

>

> Debbie Slater

> Perth, WA

>

>

>