1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 21January 1 980
concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action
relating to the taking up and pursuit of the activities of midwives
(80/155/EEC)
(OJ L 33, 11.2.1980, p. 8)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Council Directive 89/594/EEC of 30 October 1989 L 341 19 23.11.1989
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 21January 1 980
concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by law,
regulation or administrative action relating to the taking up and
pursuit of the activities of midwives
(80/155/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Articles 49, 57 and 66. thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),
Whereas, under Article 57 of the Treaty, the provisions laid down by
law, regulation or administrative action relating to the taking up and
pursuit of the activities of midwives must be coordinated; whereas it is
necessary for reasons of public health to move within the Communitytowards a common definition of the field of activity of the professionalpersons concerned and of their training; whereas it has not been thoughtdesirable to impose to that end a unified training programme for allMember States; whereas they should on the contrary be allowed the
greatest possible freedom in organizing training; whereas the best
solution is therefore to lay down minimum standards;
Whereas the coordination of these activities, as envisaged by this
Directive, does not exclude subsequent coordination;
Whereas, as far as training is concerned, most Member States do not at
present distinguish between midwives who pursue their activities asemployed persons and those who are self-employed; whereas for thisreason it appears necessary to extend the application of this Directive to
employed midwives,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. Member States shall make the taking up and pursuit of midwifery
activities under the titles referred to in Article l of Directive 80/154/
EEC(4) conditional on the possession of a diploma, certificate or other
evidence of formal qualifications in midwifery as listed in Article 3 ofthe said Directive, guaranteeing that the person concerned has acquiredduring the total duration of training:
(a) adequate knowledge of the sciences on which the activities of
midwives are based, particularly obstetrics and gynaecology;
(b) adequate knowledge of the ethics of the profession and the
professional legislation;
(c) detailed knowledge of biological functions, anatomy and physiology
in the field of obstetrics and of the newly born, and also a
knowledge of the relationship between the state of health and the
physical and social environment of the human being, and of hisbehaviour;
(d) adequate clinical experience gained in approved institutions under
the supervision of staff qualified in midwifery and obstetrics;
(e) adequate understanding of the training of health personnel and
experience of working with such personnel.1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 18, 12. 2. 1970, p. 1.
(2) OJ No C 101, 4. 8. 1970, p. 26.
(3) OJ No C 146, 11. 12. 1970, p. 17.
(4) See page 1 of this Official journal.
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2. The training referred to in paragraph 1 shall comprise:
— either a full-time course in midwifery comprising at least three years
of practical and theoretical studies, admission to which is subject tocompletion of at least the first 10 years of general school education,
— or a full-time course in midwifery lasting at least 18 months,
admission to which is subject to possession of a diploma, certificate
or other evidence of formal qualifications of nurses responsible for
general care referred to in Article 3 of Directive 77/452/EEC(
1).
3. The course in midwifery provided for in the first indent of
paragraph 2 shall cover at least the subjects of the training programme
set out in the Annex.
The course provided for in the second indent of paragraph 2 shall cover
at least the subjects of the training programme set out in the Annexwhich did of form part of an equivalent course in the training of nurses.
4. Member States shall ensure that the institution training midwives is
responsible for the coordination of theory and practice throughout the
programme.
The theoretical and technical training mentioned in Part A of the Annex
shall be balanced and coordinated with the clinical training of midwives
mentioned in Part B of. the same Annex in such a way that the
knowledge and experience listed in paragraph 1 may be acquired in anadequate manner.
Clinical instruction shall take the form of supervised in-service training
in hospital departments or other health services approved by the
competent authorities or bodies. As part of this training, student
midwives shall participate in the activities of the departments concernedin so far as those activities contribute to their training. They shall betaught the responsibilities involved in the activities of midwives.
5. Nothing in this Directive shall prejudice any facility which may be
granted in accordance with their own rules by Member States in respectof their own territory to authorize holders of diplomas, certificates andother evidence of formal qualifications which have not been obtained in
a Member State to take up and pursue the activities of midwife.
6. As a transitional measure and notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 4,
Spain, whose provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrativeaction provided for training which did not comply with this Directivewhen Directive 80/154/EEC and this Directive took effect, may continue
to apply those provisions to persons who commenced their specific
midwifery training not later than 31 December 1985:
Each host Member State shall be authorized to require of holders of
diplomas, certificates or other evidence of formal qualifications as
midwife awarded by Spain following specific training commenced
before 1 January 1986 that their diplomas, certificates and otherevidence of formal qualifications be accompanied by a certificate statingthat they have effectively and lawfully been engaged in the activities ofmidwife for at least three consecutive years during the five years prior tothe date of the issue of the certificate, unless the said diploma, certificate
or other evidence of formal qualifications is accompanied by a
certificate issued by the competent Spanish authorities stating that itattests to training in full compliance with this Article and with theAnnex.
Article 2
After a periodical examination of the results of the various training
courses provided for in Article 1 (2), the Commission shall make its firstreport to the Council six years after notification of this Directive. The1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ No L 176, 15. 7. 1977, p. 1.▼M1
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said examination shall be carried out with the assistance of the Advisory
Committee on the Training of Midwives.
In the light of the results of this examination, the Commission shall
present proposals for amendments aimed at aligning the minimumcriteria laid down for the said training courses on the conditionsprescribed in the first sub-indent of the first indent and in the secondindent of Article 2 (1) of Directive 80/154/EEC. The Council shall act
forthwith on these proposals.
Article 3
Notwithstanding Article 1, Member States may permit part-time training
under conditions approved by the competent national authorities.
The total period of part-time training may not be less than that of full-
time training. The standard of the training may not be impaired by itspart-time nature.
Article 4
States shall ensure that midwives are at least entitled to take up and
pursue the following activities:
1. to provide sound family planning information and advice;
2. to diagnose pregnancies and monitor normal pregnancies; to carry
out the examinations necessary for the monitoring of the develop-
ment of normal pregnancies;
3. to prescribe or advise on the examinations necessary for the earliest
possible diagnosis of pregnancies at risk;
4. to provide a programme of parenthood preparation and a complete
preparation for childbirth including advice on hygiene and nutrition;
5. to care for and assist the mother during labour and to monitor the
condition of the foetus in utero by the appropriate clinical and
technical means;
6. to conduct spontaneous deliveries including where required an
episiotomy and in urgent cases a breech delivery;
7. to recognize the warning signs of abnormality in the mother or
infant which necessitate referral to a doctor and to assist the latter
where appropriate; to take the necessary emergency measures in thedoctor's absence, in particular the manual removal of the placenta,possibly followed by manual examination of the uterus;
8. to examine and care for the new-born infant; to take all initiatives
which are necessary in case of need and to carry out wherenecessary immediate resuscitation;
9. to care for and monitor the progress of the mother in the post-natal
period and to give all necessary advice to the mother on infant careto enable her to ensure the optimum progress of the new-born infant;
10. to carry out the treatment prescribed by a doctor;11. to maintain all necessary records.
Article 5
This Directive shall also apply to nationals of Member States who, in
accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 of 15 October1968 on freedom of movement for workers within the Community(
1),
are pursuing or will pursue, as employed persons, one of the activitiesreferred to in Article 1 of Directive 80/154/EEC.
Article 6
1. Member States shall take the measures necessary to comply with
this Directive within three years of its notification and shall forthwithinform the Commission thereof.1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 4
(1) OJ No L 257, 19. 10. 1968, p. 2.
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2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of
the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the fieldcovered by this Directive.
Article 7
Where a Member State encounters major difficulties in certain fields
when applying: this Directive, the Commission shall examine these
difficulties in conjunction with that State and shall request the opinion ofthe Committee of Senior Officials on Public Health set up underDecision 75/365/EEC(
1), as last amended by Decision 80/157/EEC(2).
Where necessary, the Commission shall submit appropriate proposals to
the Council.
Article 8
Not later than six years after notification of this Directive, the Council,
acting on a proposal from the Commission, and after having sought the
opinion of the Advisory Committee, shall decide whether the derogation
provided for in the third item in Part B of the Annex should bewithdrawn or its scope reduced.
Article 9
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 5
(1) OJ No L 167, 30. 6. 1975, p. 19.
(2) See page 15 of this Official Journal.
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ANNEX
TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR MIDWIVES
The training programme for obtaining a diploma, certificate or other evidence of
formal qualifications in midwifery consists of the following two parts:
A. THEORETICAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION
(a)General subjects
1. Basic anatomy and physiology
2. Basic pathology
3 Basic bacteriology, virology and parasitology
4. Basic biophysics, biochemistry and radiology5. Paediatrics, with particular reference to new-born infants6. Hygiene, health education, preventive medicine, early diagnosis of
diseases
7. Nutrition and dietetics, with particular reference to women, new-born
and young babies
8. Basic sociology and socio-medical questions
9. Basic pharmacology
10. Psychology11. Principles and methods of teaching12. Health and social legislation and health organization13. Professional ethics and professional legislation
14. Sex education and family planning
15. Legal protection of mother and infant
(b)Subjects specific to the activities of midwives
1. Anatomy and physiology
2. Embryology and development of the foetus3. Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium4. Gynaecological and obstetrical pathology5. Preparation for childbirth and parenthood, including psychological
aspects
6. Preparation for delivery (including knowledge and use of technical
equipment in obstetrics)
7. Analgesia, anaesthesia and resuscitation8. Physiology and pathology of the new-born infant9. Care and supervision of the new-born infant
10. Psychological and social factors
B. PRACTICAL AND CLINICAL TRAINING
This training is to be dispensed under appropriate supervision:
1. Advising of pregnant women, involving at least 100 pre-natal examina-
tions.
2. Supervision and care of at least 40 women in labour.
3. The student should personally carry out at least 40 deliveries; where this
number cannot be reached owing to the lack of available women in
labour, it may be reduced to a minimum of 30, provided that the student
participates actively in 20 further deliveries.
4. Active participation with breech deliveries. Where this is not possible
because of lack of breech deliveries practice may be in a simulated
situation.
5. Performance of episiotomy and initiation into suturing. Initiation shall
include theoretical instruction and clinical practice. The practice of
suturing includes suturing of the wound following an episiotomy and a
simple perineal laceration. This may be in a simulated situation if
absolutely necessary.1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 6
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6. Supervision and care of 40 women at risk in pregnancy, or labour or post-
natal period.
7. Supervision and care (including examination) of at least 100 post-natal
women and healthy new-born infants.
8. Observation and care of the new-born requiring special care including
those born pre-term, post-term, underweight or ill.
9. Care of women with pathological conditions in the fields of gynaecology
and obstetrics.
10. Initiation into care in the field of medicine and surgery. Initiation shall
include theoretical instruction and clinical practice.1980L0155 — EN — 08.11.1989 — 001.001 — 7