Current perceptions of statutory supervision of midwifery: time for change

Statutory supervision of midwifery has been in place in the UK for 113 years. Recently, however, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2015) have voted to accept the recommendations of the King’s fund review (2015) into midwifery regulation, which will see the end of the statutory supervision of midwifery as we know it. Much of the literature on this subject extols the virtues of statutory supervision. The aim of this study is to explore current perceptions of statutory supervision among a sample of midwifery practitioners to establish whether their views and opinions of statutory supervision supports or undermines the provision of care. The data represents a complex picture of supervision. Concerns and challenges arise for all those involved with statutory supervision, which at times does not appear to support the provision of quality care.