By Staff
Panel to look at licensing of professional midwives
By PETER WILLIAMS
Managing Editor
A retired Beaufort County nurse has been appointed to the N.C. House Select Committee on Licensing Midwives.
House Speaker Joe Hackney appointed Ginny Williams to the position last month.
The committee is charged with studying the needs of North Carolinians who choose to give birth at home and is to consider whether to allow the licensing of Certified Professional Midwives.
Williams is a retired registered nurse. She worked as a delivery-room nurse for many years before going to work for the Beaufort County Health Department. She is vice chairwoman of the Beaufort County Board of Health.
Williams entered the nursing profession after she graduated from high school.
In 2003, the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics reported there were 11,513 babies delivered by certified nurse midwives. Currently, the certified professional midwife status is not licensed in the state.
Williams, wife of state Rep. Arthur Williams, already serves on the state commission that encourages the donation of organs.
State Rep. Bob England, a physician, and state Rep. Marian McLawhorn of Pitt County will co-chair the committee. Becky Bagley of Pitt County also was appointed to the 12-member committee.
The committee co-chairs will set the meeting dates for the committee. The committee is expected to submit a final report in December.