Midwives with no GPS

SIR – In 1993, with the publication of the report Changing Childbirth, it was the GPS who withdrew themselves from the maternity units and ceased to be updated regularly in obstetrics and maternity care. We midwives extended our role to all that the GPS had practised and, may I add, beyond, taking on more clinical skills.

In two weeks’ time I will be retiring as a midwife of 40 years in the NHS. For most of these years, my practice was in Gp/midwife-led unit, which then became midwife-led units and now are birthing units. I also spent a few years in high risk care and neonatal unit.

The imbalance does indeed need to be redressed as Anthony Fincham (Letters, August 19) mentioned, to return to care centred on mothers and babies, with both highly trained midwifery and medical teams working hand in hand for safe management in childbirth.

Braintree, Essex