FSRH consultation response: FSRH evidence the need for Midwifery Standards to take into account the demand for available contraception within maternity pathways

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched a consultation on its draft Standards of Proficiency for Midwives. In our response, we evidenced why the Standards should be based on the recognition that contraceptive care is an integral part of best practice in maternity services.

Key recommendations made by FSRH set out why the Standards should underline the importance of the following criteria:

• Comprehensive discussion of contraceptive options as part of antenatal and postnatal consultations. Specifically, we made that clear that women should be provided with accurate information, based on FSRH guidelines.

• Additional contraceptive training for more specialist midwives in providing contraceptive implants and intrauterine contraceptives postpartum.

• All midwives receiving contraceptive training and regular updating in providing accurate contraceptive information and support at both the antenatal and postnatal stages of service delivery.

FSRH also made clear that we are the main provider of evidence-based contraceptive advice and training in the UK. Within this context we outlined two of our training programmes, which have been designed for the needs of midwives - The FSRH Letters of Competence Subdermal Contraceptive Implants : Insertion Only (LoC SDI – IO) and the recently launched FSRH Essentials of Contraception for Midwives.

You can download our response below.