tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354191651322376251.post4342586067425646426..comments2023-10-07T03:24:51.098+11:00Comments on midwivesVictoria: New information on professional indemnity insurance for midwivesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354191651322376251.post-19769950023210263392010-08-05T13:43:20.671+10:002010-08-05T13:43:20.671+10:00A colleague has suggested that I am being excessiv...A colleague has suggested that I am being excessively critical of the NMBA in this post, in that the Board has been handed the mess<br />that politicians and bureaucrats have caused.<br /><br />That may be the case.<br /><br />But, the NMBA have put out this draft flow chart of professional indemnity insurance for midwives, acknowledging the exemption for homebirth, and posing a totally unprofessional solution for women in the care of midwives who attend homebirths without any insurance. <br /><br />The regulatory boards are there to "Protect the public". They have to make regulatory standards that are in the public interest - which this one clearly is not. <br /><br />This standard puts the lives of mothers and babies at risk.<br /><br />Let's not look at the midwife - look at the woman. Midwives are supposed to provide woman centred care. Look at the woman at the centre of that option of care where the midwife only provides intrapartum care. Perhaps this woman will have a visit with the GP and may even have some antenatal care with the local public hospital. Perhaps she is well nourished and fit and all's perfect. What happens when postnatally the midwife drops in for a cuppa and recognises jaundice? Will that midwife facilitate the urgent review of the baby at a hospital with the capacity for treatment, or set up an inadequate level of phototherapy in the sunlight (if there is any)? Will the midwife play this absurd and pointless game that she/he cannot give postnatal care. Will the midwife coach the parents as to what they can and can't say about her/his involvement in their care, that she/he just happened to drop in for a cuppa and to bring over some fresh scones and noticed that this baby who is not yet 2 days old is a bit orange? <br /><br />What about Rh Negative women in this group?<br /><br />What about early breastfeeding problems in this group?<br /><br />We need to call a spade a spade. The NMBA will act with all its considerable authority and power if a complaint is made against a midwife. Their duty to the public, in whose interest they are bound to act, is to refuse to publish a Registration Standard that is so clearly compromising the care of individual women and babies.Joy Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475164378153618715noreply@blogger.com