A midwifery organisation and trade union is calling for an independent investigation after an independent midwife company went into administration.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said it was ‘extremely concerned’ after it received a notification that One to One Midwives would cease trade on Wednesday, July 31.

The RCM received the news just two days before and have arranged emergency meetings with their fifty members mostly employed in Essex and the North West.

Several of the midwives from One to One had contracts with NHS commissioners and the sudden administration has caused anguish and uncertainty for expectant mothers.

A statement from RCM said: “We have sought to work with many stakeholders to ensure employment rights are observed, to facilitate employment in the NHS for midwives and MSWs and to support members at this difficult time.

“This will continue and we are grateful for the efforts of NHS England, Heads of Midwifery and our solicitors, Thompsons.”

The RCM is the recognised body to represent the staff of this employer and we were accorded no consultation.

The trade union added: “We understand that transfer arrangements are now in place because the key issue is the continuing care those women booked with the company will now be receiving from the NHS.”

The RCM stated that they do not know the reasons why One to One went into administration or what the financial and service issues were in detail.

The company signed a contract to provide midwifery services with NHS Wirral in November 2011.

One to One provided a single midwife to see women through antenatal care, birth and postnatal care.

NHS England previously launched an investigation into the company in October 2014, after the death of two babies in Manchester.

“We, as a trade union and professional body have been engaged in picking up the pieces left over – the service to women and their families, the careers of midwives and MSWs, as well as their employment rights,” added The RCM. “It is for this reason we believe that NHS England should commission an Independent Investigation to learn lessons, to make the position transparent and to apportion responsibility, whether financial or professional.”