Australian Private Midwives Association
Contact: National President Liz Wilkes 0423 580585
Medical veto impacts women’s access to care: Women Rally.
The Federal government may stall on the blocks of its first major initiative in health as the reform of maternity services hits stumbling blocks and criticism. Women will rally around Australia tomorrow to ensure choices are not lost in the wash up.
Liz Wilkes, National President of the Australian Private Midwives Association, will join women and midwives outside Kevin Rudd’s electorate office in Brisbane. Women are seeking assurances that new legislation around private midwives registration and practice will not reduce options for care.
“Midwives are educated and regulated to provide care for pregnancy, labour and birth on their own responsibility under the International Confederation of Midwives definition of a midwife,” Ms Wilkes stated “Suddenly we are told that doctors control the ship and that doctors will be able to decide who can do what.”
Legislation due before the Senate was amended on Thursday by the Government to require midwives to work at all times in formal collaborative arrangements with doctors as a condition of insurance. Doctors will be able to veto these arrangements effectively giving the medical profession the ability to control which midwives can be insured and register.
“The reform of maternity services is the first test of the Governments health reform agenda. It looks like the medical lobby may stall these reforms before they even get started.” Ms Wilkes said today “Placing one profession at the complete mercy of another for registration makes a mockery of professional regulation in this country.”
Women at the centre of the scuffle are concerned that the amendment may erode rather than expand choices as doctors make decisions about what types of care to support. Many choices such as homebirth, vaginal birth after caesarean and care in rural areas may be lost if doctors do not form the formal agreements with midwives.
“For the midwives who are currently self-employed it is no longer a matter of referring a woman who needs care to the appropriate person. Formal agreements with doctors will determine which of these educated, experienced and skilled midwives can actually register.”
Ms Wilkes added “Regulators should control midwifery professional standards, not how a doctor feels about a particular midwife. This takes midwifery back 50 years.”
Women are worried about the choices in birth and are calling on the Prime Minister to make sure that in implementing this first serious reform in health, options for choice are not lost.
Women rally at 10.30am November 9 at electorate offices of Kevin Rudd Brisbane, Julia Gillard Melbourne, Tanya Plibersek Sydney and Stephen Smith Perth.
Contacts: Liz Wilkes 0423 580585 (Brisbane and national) Marie Health 0407266004
(Sydney)Sally Westbury 0422 894 496 (Perth) Clare Lane 0416 130291 (Melbourne)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
MIPP Calling Card to Julia Gillard
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Roxon is not listening!!!
Midwives ALREADY provide safe care yet she continues to submit to the AMA demands.
MIDWIVES do not need medical supervision or permission to care for homebirthing women!
Babies born at home had similar Apgar scores to babies born in hospital. Less than 3% of babies born at home required admission to the special or intensive care nurseries compared to hospital born babies at > 15%.
Medical Observer, 6th November 2009:
"The amendments to the nurse practitioner legislation will come as welcome relief for doctors…AMA vice-president Dr Steve Hambleton, who sits on the Government’s Nurse Practitioner Advisory Group (NPAG), said the crucial amendment would ensure nurse practitioners were not supported to work in competition with doctors."
The amendments to the legislation will also apply to midwives.
The safety of women & babies is clearly not the Health Department's or the AMA's main priority. They care more about the perceived potential loss of income & loss of control over a woman’s basic right to choose how, where & with whom she gives birth.
[Calling Card prepared by Andrea Bilcliff]
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Reminder: RALLY ON MONDAY
Monday 9 November 2009 from 10.30am (local time)
Rally points:
Brisbane:
Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd’s office
630 Wynnum Road
Morningside Qld 4170
Werribee:
Deputy Prime Minister
Julia Gillard’s office
Shop 2, 36 Synnot Street
Werribee Vic 3030
Sydney:
Minister for the Status of Women
Tanya Plibersek’s office
111-117 Devonshire Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Perth: at 11.10am Perth Only
Office of Stephen Smith (most senior Gov member in WA)
953A Beaufort Street
Inglewood WA 6932
If you are unable to attend, please prepare your 'calling card' - a letter to Kevin, Julia, Tanya, or Stephen (or another member of the government), telling them who you are and why you can not accept maternity reform which prevents midwives from practising midwifery in their own right, and prevents women from giving birth in their homes with their chosen midwife attending them. Please email your letter to your midwife or someone else who is going to the rally, and ask them to give it to the MP concerned.
Anyone who would like their calling card to appear on this blog, please email it to joy@aitex.com.au
NOTE:
I want to encourage midwives to go to the rally, and to make sure your banners and calling cards state clearly that you are not happy with what this reform is doing to you – as a midwife.
The midwife’s livelihood is at stake, and we need to be heard. The whole profession of midwifery stands to lose our right to practising on our own authority in any setting.
Rally points:
Brisbane:
Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd’s office
630 Wynnum Road
Morningside Qld 4170
Werribee:
Deputy Prime Minister
Julia Gillard’s office
Shop 2, 36 Synnot Street
Werribee Vic 3030
Sydney:
Minister for the Status of Women
Tanya Plibersek’s office
111-117 Devonshire Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Perth: at 11.10am Perth Only
Office of Stephen Smith (most senior Gov member in WA)
953A Beaufort Street
Inglewood WA 6932
If you are unable to attend, please prepare your 'calling card' - a letter to Kevin, Julia, Tanya, or Stephen (or another member of the government), telling them who you are and why you can not accept maternity reform which prevents midwives from practising midwifery in their own right, and prevents women from giving birth in their homes with their chosen midwife attending them. Please email your letter to your midwife or someone else who is going to the rally, and ask them to give it to the MP concerned.
Anyone who would like their calling card to appear on this blog, please email it to joy@aitex.com.au
NOTE:
I want to encourage midwives to go to the rally, and to make sure your banners and calling cards state clearly that you are not happy with what this reform is doing to you – as a midwife.
The midwife’s livelihood is at stake, and we need to be heard. The whole profession of midwifery stands to lose our right to practising on our own authority in any setting.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Excerpts from Julia Gillard's speech to midwives in 2005
I hope you will enjoy hearing the Deputy PM saying that she is concerned that midwives have:
“limited opportunities to practise as primary carers and provide continuity of care to women”
and
“Unless and until the Government is shocked and shamed into realising that Australian women … blahblah”
and
“I believe that midwives … are key heath care professionals whose role in the care of women and their babies has yet to be fully realised in the Australian health care system”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it! Perhaps Julia needs to be reminded of what she said before the Australian people voted Labor into office.
Joy Johnston
Midwifery By The Sea - Riding The Waves Of Change
Speech - ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF NSWMA
20th October 2005
Julia Gillard
[These are excerpts from the speech]
Thank you very much for your invitation to join you here today at your annual state conference by the sea.
…
The best start in life
It will not surprise this audience - I'm sure you will all agree - if I now say that I see the pregnant woman as the best focus for early intervention.
Between us we could draw up an impressive list of perinatal programs that would boost the health of the mother and her baby, and improve outcomes, and give all our kids the best start in life.
Obstetric services and workforce shortages
In the middle of this is the big event - the birth.
I know that midwives - as a group and individually - have strong ideas about what should be provided in terms of birthing services.
But shockingly, it is increasingly the case that for some women the idea of having a choice of birthing services and having continuity of care throughout their pregnancy, the birth and in the post-natal period is an impossible luxury - not just unaffordable, but unobtainable in their local area.
…
The shortage of midwives is also a problem. The Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee estimates a current national shortage of 1850 midwives, and this is expected to increase over the remainder of the decade.
…
Midwives face additional concerns about the lack of professional recognition as well as limited opportunities to practise as primary carers and provide continuity of care to women.
The need for a concerted approach
Clearly this is no time for turf warfare between doctors and midwives, but it is time for all health care professionals involved in delivering obstetrics care to mount a combined attack on the Howard Government to force them into action to address this situation.
Unless and until the Government is shocked and shamed into realising that Australian women are now scrambling to find the birthing centre of their choice, and in some cases scrambling to find any professional who will deliver their child, the situation will not improve.
It seems to me that we need a variety of solutions to fit all the circumstances that arise. There is no 'one size fits all' way to solve the problems that present so differently in metropolitan Sydney, the isolated community of Wilcannia, the growing town of Byron Bay and the multicultural suburbs of Western Sydney. The one common factor is the pregnant woman and her child - they must be at the centre of the solution.
… I believe that midwives … are key heath care professionals whose role in the care of women and their babies has yet to be fully realised in the Australian health care system.
We need to realise that potential so that mothers have real choice in their birthing experience, and their babies have the best start in life.
This is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our nation.
“limited opportunities to practise as primary carers and provide continuity of care to women”
and
“Unless and until the Government is shocked and shamed into realising that Australian women … blahblah”
and
“I believe that midwives … are key heath care professionals whose role in the care of women and their babies has yet to be fully realised in the Australian health care system”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it! Perhaps Julia needs to be reminded of what she said before the Australian people voted Labor into office.
Joy Johnston
Midwifery By The Sea - Riding The Waves Of Change
Speech - ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF NSWMA
20th October 2005
Julia Gillard
[These are excerpts from the speech]
Thank you very much for your invitation to join you here today at your annual state conference by the sea.
…
The best start in life
It will not surprise this audience - I'm sure you will all agree - if I now say that I see the pregnant woman as the best focus for early intervention.
Between us we could draw up an impressive list of perinatal programs that would boost the health of the mother and her baby, and improve outcomes, and give all our kids the best start in life.
Obstetric services and workforce shortages
In the middle of this is the big event - the birth.
I know that midwives - as a group and individually - have strong ideas about what should be provided in terms of birthing services.
But shockingly, it is increasingly the case that for some women the idea of having a choice of birthing services and having continuity of care throughout their pregnancy, the birth and in the post-natal period is an impossible luxury - not just unaffordable, but unobtainable in their local area.
…
The shortage of midwives is also a problem. The Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee estimates a current national shortage of 1850 midwives, and this is expected to increase over the remainder of the decade.
…
Midwives face additional concerns about the lack of professional recognition as well as limited opportunities to practise as primary carers and provide continuity of care to women.
The need for a concerted approach
Clearly this is no time for turf warfare between doctors and midwives, but it is time for all health care professionals involved in delivering obstetrics care to mount a combined attack on the Howard Government to force them into action to address this situation.
Unless and until the Government is shocked and shamed into realising that Australian women are now scrambling to find the birthing centre of their choice, and in some cases scrambling to find any professional who will deliver their child, the situation will not improve.
It seems to me that we need a variety of solutions to fit all the circumstances that arise. There is no 'one size fits all' way to solve the problems that present so differently in metropolitan Sydney, the isolated community of Wilcannia, the growing town of Byron Bay and the multicultural suburbs of Western Sydney. The one common factor is the pregnant woman and her child - they must be at the centre of the solution.
… I believe that midwives … are key heath care professionals whose role in the care of women and their babies has yet to be fully realised in the Australian health care system.
We need to realise that potential so that mothers have real choice in their birthing experience, and their babies have the best start in life.
This is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our nation.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Midwives/ Nurse Practitioner Amendment
THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING
MEDIA STATEMENT – 5 NOVEMBER 2009
Midwives/ Nurse Practitioner Amendment
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon has today circulated an amendment the Government intends to introduce into the Health Legislation (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill and the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill.
This amendment makes clear in the legislation something that was articulated both on introduction of the Bill to parliament and in the explanatory material tabled at that time.
Following requests for clarification, this amendment will simply clarify in legislation that collaborative arrangements with medical practitioners will be required to access the new arrangements.
The details of these requirements will be specified in subordinate legislation following the ongoing consultation with the professional groups.
These bills are a key plank of the Government’s 2009/10 Budget commitments which recognises for the first time the role of appropriately qualified and experienced midwives and nurse practitioners in our health system.
The Minister for Health and Ageing said today “I thank the doctors, nurses and midwives for their constructive engagement to date to ensure these new opportunities for nurses and midwives are implemented in an integrated fashion for the benefit of patients.”
For more information contact the Minister’s office on 02 6277 7220
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING
MEDIA STATEMENT – 5 NOVEMBER 2009
Midwives/ Nurse Practitioner Amendment
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon has today circulated an amendment the Government intends to introduce into the Health Legislation (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill and the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill.
This amendment makes clear in the legislation something that was articulated both on introduction of the Bill to parliament and in the explanatory material tabled at that time.
Following requests for clarification, this amendment will simply clarify in legislation that collaborative arrangements with medical practitioners will be required to access the new arrangements.
The details of these requirements will be specified in subordinate legislation following the ongoing consultation with the professional groups.
These bills are a key plank of the Government’s 2009/10 Budget commitments which recognises for the first time the role of appropriately qualified and experienced midwives and nurse practitioners in our health system.
The Minister for Health and Ageing said today “I thank the doctors, nurses and midwives for their constructive engagement to date to ensure these new opportunities for nurses and midwives are implemented in an integrated fashion for the benefit of patients.”
For more information contact the Minister’s office on 02 6277 7220
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
NOT HAPPY KEVIN! NOT HAPPY JULIA!
RALLY - outside the offices of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard
Homebirth: My Birth, My Choice
Monday 9th November 2009 10:30am
As a result of the mess that maternity reform has become and the unclear but seemingly very poor options for homebirthing women, Homebirth Australia and Home Midwifery Association are hosting a rally outside Kevin Rudd's electorate office in BRISBANE, and outside Julia Gillard's office in WERRIBEE.
Other groups are invited to join the rally to make this the beginning of a very clear election campaign.
Homebirth: My Birth, My Choice
Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party is no friend of homebirth, not even midwifery it seems.
Kevin Rudd's electoral office
630 Wynumm Road
Morningside
Julia Gillard's Werribee Office:
Shop 2, 36 Synnot Street
Werribee Vic 3030
Email: Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au
Women, children, men, families, friends who support choice in birth, including homebirth with a private midwife.
Bring a 'calling card' to drop off, letting our Prime Minister and his deputy know that women want choice in childbirth and this includes the choice to hire a private midwife to birth at home - insured and funded. The calling card should be an A4 piece of paper (can be larger or smaller) with your name and address, concerns, experience, suggestions and a request for a response from Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard about this important issue.
The rally and is supported by Homebirth Australia, the Home Midwifery Association (Qld) and Maternity Coalition.
More info
HBA: Justine Caines justine.caines@gmail.com 0408210273
HMA: Kirsten Adams adamskirsten@hotmail.com
Homebirth: My Birth, My Choice
Monday 9th November 2009 10:30am
As a result of the mess that maternity reform has become and the unclear but seemingly very poor options for homebirthing women, Homebirth Australia and Home Midwifery Association are hosting a rally outside Kevin Rudd's electorate office in BRISBANE, and outside Julia Gillard's office in WERRIBEE.
Other groups are invited to join the rally to make this the beginning of a very clear election campaign.
Homebirth: My Birth, My Choice
Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party is no friend of homebirth, not even midwifery it seems.
Kevin Rudd's electoral office
630 Wynumm Road
Morningside
Julia Gillard's Werribee Office:
Shop 2, 36 Synnot Street
Werribee Vic 3030
Email: Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au
Women, children, men, families, friends who support choice in birth, including homebirth with a private midwife.
Bring a 'calling card' to drop off, letting our Prime Minister and his deputy know that women want choice in childbirth and this includes the choice to hire a private midwife to birth at home - insured and funded. The calling card should be an A4 piece of paper (can be larger or smaller) with your name and address, concerns, experience, suggestions and a request for a response from Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard about this important issue.
The rally and is supported by Homebirth Australia, the Home Midwifery Association (Qld) and Maternity Coalition.
More info
HBA: Justine Caines justine.caines@gmail.com 0408210273
HMA: Kirsten Adams adamskirsten@hotmail.com
Monday, November 2, 2009
Queensland passes national registration Bill
News article from the MEDICAL OBSERVER
Queensland passes national registration Bill
Elizabeth McIntosh - Monday, 2 November 2009
CONTROVERSIAL legislation that gives governments greater control over medical training standards has begun its national roll-out.
The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Bill 2009 passed through the Queensland Parliament last week, and will now be used as a template by all other states and territories. ...
AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce said the Queensland Government had failed to take into account the association’s concerns.
“The AMA believes the Queensland Parliament is handing the other [states and territories] a flawed and ineffectual Bill,” he said.
Since it was first proposed, the national registration and accreditation scheme outlined in the Bill has generated much concern among medical groups. The AMA previously lobbied for the legislation to incorporate a ‘public interest test’ that health ministers would have to meet before altering standards, however the amendment was not supported by the Government.
The only concession given was that health ministers would have to consider the impact that any changes would have on the quality and safety of health care.
[NOTE: This is the Bill that has made professional indemnity insurance mandatory for all registered health professionals, at the centre of the threat to the very existence of private midwifery practice for homebirth. As has been discussed here and elsewhere, midwives have been granted a 2-year exemption from indemnity for attending birth in the home.]
Queensland passes national registration Bill
Elizabeth McIntosh - Monday, 2 November 2009
CONTROVERSIAL legislation that gives governments greater control over medical training standards has begun its national roll-out.
The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Bill 2009 passed through the Queensland Parliament last week, and will now be used as a template by all other states and territories. ...
AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce said the Queensland Government had failed to take into account the association’s concerns.
“The AMA believes the Queensland Parliament is handing the other [states and territories] a flawed and ineffectual Bill,” he said.
Since it was first proposed, the national registration and accreditation scheme outlined in the Bill has generated much concern among medical groups. The AMA previously lobbied for the legislation to incorporate a ‘public interest test’ that health ministers would have to meet before altering standards, however the amendment was not supported by the Government.
The only concession given was that health ministers would have to consider the impact that any changes would have on the quality and safety of health care.
[NOTE: This is the Bill that has made professional indemnity insurance mandatory for all registered health professionals, at the centre of the threat to the very existence of private midwifery practice for homebirth. As has been discussed here and elsewhere, midwives have been granted a 2-year exemption from indemnity for attending birth in the home.]
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