The Midwifery Council response to HDC Case 20HDC00503

August 2022

This report from the Deputy Health and Disciplinary Commissioner focuses on the importance of providing high quality clinical care, ensuring good record keeping and clear communication between health professionals and the people in their care.

The Deputy Commissioner found that the midwife breached Right 4(1) of the Code by failing to store clinical notes properly; not providing the minimum number of postnatal visits to the woman; not assessing the baby’s reflux and colic adequately; and failing to assess the woman properly before prescribing antibiotics. The midwife also failed to discharge or refer the woman to appropriate services at the end of the postnatal period.

In April 2021, Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu | Midwifery Council initiated a competence review for the midwife, focusing on postnatal decision making and communication as well as systems for documentation storage.

The Chief Executive/Registrar of the Council, Dr Sue Calvert, says informed consent, clear documentation, and sound record keeping are an integral part of midwifery practice; and are essential to record the provision of safe and effective clinical care for women and their babies.

“Documents associated with the provision of health care form an important component of clinical practice” says Dr Calvert. “Anyone receiving midwifery care should feel confident that their and their baby’s health information will be documented, with their consent, in a respectful manner.”

“Safety is paramount,” Dr Calvert says. “All midwives need to ensure that no act or omission places wahine and whānau at risk. We expect all midwives to provide high quality care. In this case, a first-time mother required support and assessment of her wound healing, support to breastfeed, including clinical assessment of mastitis, and ongoing assessment of her new baby. Three home visits in the postnatal period does not meet the minimum contractual requirements expected. It is also concerning that there was no discharge or referral to appropriate services at the end of the postnatal period”.

Dr Calvert says: “Our first priority is always the safety of mothers and babies, as the Council is the regulatory body set up to protect the public by making sure midwives are competent and fit to practise.”

At its meeting in September, Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu | Midwifery Council will consider the Deputy Commissioner’s report and decide whether any further action is required in order to protect the safety of the public.

Released by Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu | Midwifery Council

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