You know the complaints and infringements process is the same for all midwives and nurses regardless of where they work and it isn't picking out independent midwives as a means to end their careers just that the restrictions effect them more. Not all independent midwives practice safely and may need reporting just as not all hospital midwives and nurses practice safely either and need reporting as well.
Hi Little Chicken

I think that is a really excellent point.

Anyone dealing in healthcare should be held to a high standard. Anyone dealing in birth (in or out of hospital) should be beyond reproach. A midwife who practices at home has less backup from colleagues than a midwife who practices in a hospital. You would expect a higher standard of practice from someone who goes it alone. If they can't uphold that higher standard then perhaps its better that they do spend more time in a collaborative environment.