Background-Changing Childbirth (1993), a report on the future of maternity services in the United Kingdom, endorsed the development of a primarily community based midwifery led service for normal pregnancy, with priority given to the provision of "woman centred care". This has led to the development of local schemes emphasising continuity of midwifery care and increased choice and control for women. Aims-To

Since the publication of Changing Childbirth (Department of Health, 1993), maternity units have organized midwives into partnerships, teams and group practices by recruiting self-selected midwives committed to the principles of the schemes. Little is known, however, about what the general population of midwives think about working in this way. This article reports the findings of a survey of hospital based midwives working within a trust which was piloting community based midwifery group practices. It explores their reasons for or against applying to group practice work, and considers implications for the sustainability of such schemes.