Regulation 42 Obstetric services staffingI1

This regulation and regulation 43 apply to an independent hospital in which obstetric services and, in connection with childbirth, medical services, are provided.

The registered person must appoint a Head of Midwifery Services who is responsible for managing the provision of midwifery services in the independent hospital and, except in cases where obstetric services are provided in the hospital primarily by midwives, a Head of Obstetric Services whose name is included in the specialist medical register in respect of a specialty in obstetrics and who is responsible for managing the provision of obstetric services.

The registered person must ensure that the health care professional who is primarily responsible for caring for pregnant women and assisting at childbirth is a midwife, an appropriately qualified general practitioner, or a medical practitioner whose name is included in the specialist medical register in respect of a specialty in obstetrics.

Where obstetric services are provided in an independent hospital primarily by midwives, the registered person must ensure that the services of a medical practitioner who is competent to deal with obstetric emergencies are available at all times.

The registered person must ensure that a health care professional who is competent to undertake resuscitation of a new born baby is available in the hospital at all times and that that person’s skills are regularly reviewed and, if necessary, updated.