Members' Business — S6M-03813 Audrey Nicoll: International Day of the Midwife, 100 Years of Progress

That the Parliament recognises the International Day of the Midwife on 5 May, which will celebrate 100 years of progress throughout the global midwife community; understands that this has included advocating for quality midwifery care to improve newborn and maternal health; recognises the vital role of midwives in Scotland in aiming to deliver person-centred, high-quality care for mothers and babies throughout pregnancy, birth and following birth; commends the positive impact that midwives can have on the health and life chances of women and babies; recognises what it considers the commitment of midwives caring for women during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on maternal mental health as midwifery services were modified, thereby impacting women’s choices during pregnancy and birth; acknowledges the policy, The Best Start: A Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, to make care locally accessible, with midwives providing high-quality care to women across Scotland in homes, communities and midwifery-led and consultant-level services, and recognises what it sees as the pivotal role of educators, researchers and students, including those based at the Robert Gordon University in the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine constituency, in supporting the delivery of midwifery services in Scotland and beyond.