What is the term for a midwife who operates independently and is not employed by the NHS?

An independent midwife is a professional who provides maternity care services outside of the NHS framework. This means they operate on their own, offering personalized care tailored to the needs of their clients, typically in a home or private practice setting. The independent midwife holds the qualifications necessary to provide care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period without being tied to a specific healthcare institution.

This term emphasizes the autonomy and self-managed nature of their practice, distinguishing them from midwives employed within public health systems like the NHS, who often work within structured teams and hospital environments.

Other terms like NHS midwife refer to those who work directly within the National Health Service, while a private midwife may imply someone providing paid services but can still be associated with NHS or regulated healthcare systems. Community midwives primarily work in local areas, usually affiliated with hospitals or health centers, focusing on care for mothers and children after hospital discharge. Hence, the specificity of independence in practice classifies independent midwives distinctly in the field of maternity care.