As a midwife ‘you must respect a woman's right to confidentiality’: A Northern Ireland perspective

There are pro fes sional standards of practice and behav iour to which a registered midwife must adhere, which are set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Coun cil (NMC). One such obligation is confiden tiality, which extends to women and their families throughout their care (NMC, 2015). A woman's right to confidentiality is identified in the NHS Constitution and is part of creating and maintaining therapeutic relations (NHS, 2015). This is arguably one of the most sensitive and challenging aspects for a midwife to manage. The Human Rights Act 1998, Data Protection Act 1998 and common law principles result in the midwife being legally bound to confidentiality until it becomes clear that information needs to be disclosed (Peate and Hamilton, 2008). This article explores the role of the midwife relating to confidentiality, its significance within midwifery in Northern Ireland, and the difficulties and challenges it brings. It will identify when and why trusted information is shared, why the right to confidentiality is not absolute, and the consequences when a breach of confidentiality arises. Examining the systems in place in midwifery, the article evaluates their success in protecting sensitive information and providing a platform for woman-centred care. Ultimately, the aim of this article is to highlight the importance of trust between a woman and midwife, the determining factor being confidentiality.