Dear jan, I am sure that there is no maliciousness within the qnc toward the homebirth midwifery movement. Said with a degree of polite uncertainty it has to be said! WHY ARE MIDWIVES BEING GOVERNED BY A NURSING COUNCIL. Please when answering don't patronise by saying all midwives in Qld are nurses.......we all went to school too yet it would be ridiculous for us to be governed by a school board or council. Recognize the difference and respect the seperate professions. Nigel Midwife who has to maintain Nursing on his registration. --- Jan Cornfoot <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Kathleen > You mention one mistake.. I think you'd find that > the rational among us > (even at the QNC) understand the frailty of humans > and the one mistake > issues.. > Unfortunately, I'm too busy to watch ozmidwifery so > would rather not take > this there for now.. > Jan > Jan Cornfoot [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Editor, Birth Issues Journal. CAPERS Bookstore. > Brisbane, Australia > -----Original Message----- > From: Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Jenny Gamble > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: denise hynd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Kerry > McGovern > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Wednesday, 7 July 1999 13:29 > Subject: RE: QNC > > > Dear Jan, > I value your perspective; it is not one I have heard > elaborated before. I > think it would be valuable to share some version of > this with the full > ozmidwifery list. > > I appreciate that you come from a consumer advocates > perspective and on QNC > your focus is on improving midwifery. I think it is > important however for > us to consider the big picture. Since midwives are > human they will make > mistakes. If there is a culture of tracking down > midwives who have made > mistakes and making complaints against them then the > effect is to destroy > independent midwifery. This is big picture stuff > and it seems to be exactly > what is happening. > > Regards, > > Kathleen > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jan Cornfoot [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 1999 1:11 > To: Kathleen Fahy; Jenny Gamble > Cc: denise hynd; Kerry McGovern; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: QNC > > > Dear Kathleen > > Some more interesting points: > obstetricians' complaints - well, we know that > doctors do come before the > Medical Board, because we read it in the papers, > recently psychiatrists > seem the flavour of the day, apart from Corones (or > however you spell it) > and that's an interesting case.. > > However, I think this is a huge issue as midwives > gossip about what > obstetricians do and when you ask if they've put in > a written complaint or > explained to the woman what her options are, or > questioned him at the time, > the conversation takes a different turn. The > institution is not too > supportive of these complaints, the midwife feels > unsupported and her job > at risk, the midwife might then feel underconfident, > the mother is > pre-occupied and unless she is given a piece of > paper with the info, or > directly referred to AIMS or HRC.. it may be > postponed indefinitely. The > other issue in hospitals particularly is the > question of responsibility. I > notice that some are very quick to criticise actions > of obstetricians and > independent midwives, but if they were required to > act independently? > Personally, I'm not keen to keep harping on whether > obstetricians are > brought before medical boards often enough, as my > focus is on midwifery > care and I think that if midwives are to be > responsible, then they should > be more aware of their own profession's failings, > rather than compare.. but > that's not to say that we should ignore the > (perceived or otherwise) > failings of obstetricians.. midwives need to work > together for better > practice, whoever is responsible.. > I still remember Caroline Flint's first visit to > Australia for me when she > told midwives that they needed to have a file of > articles 'under their arm' > and I think this is the key to lots of in-hospital > complaints: the material > needs to be there. > K. if I hear of an obstetrician acting > inappropriately, I still act on it.. > I'm not always in possession of correct or full > information, but I try to > check it first, and then make an approach. We've > (AIMS) recently made the > Minister aware of a fairly distasteful > procedure/rule at a major hospital > which she promised to act on. I still phone and > write to obstetricians, > sometimes I'm challenged, sometimes I'm enlightened > about his/her point of > view, but rarely ignored completely! > > The origin of complaints: > Well, the case studies will reveal this, but my > experience is that > consumers do submit most of those complaints against > midwives. Who prompted > them, or assisted them.. who knows.. however, in the > same way that I'd like > midwives to provide information to women about > options, others (incl ob) > might do this.... I would suggest paediatricians be > included in this > discussion too.. as well as midwives (staff ones as > well as management > ones).. as I've seen complaints pushed along by all > of the above. > Many complaints could be resolved with discussion > and a commitment from HP > and management to make changes, consumers could be > involved in more of > those. I've counselled many many women with > outrageous complaints and > they've taken it no where. > SANDS are also another organisation very aware of > the potential for > complaints. > ANYONE can complain to the QNC about a nurse, but > the QNC has to decide > whether they proceed. > Hopefully, ACMI will have a representative on the > next QNC, but if and when > they do, they have to consult widely. I've seen > instances where the ACMI > rep on a committee seems not to consult at all, and > that includes on > important issues. > The other place for ACMI is on hospital boards, > infiltration by consumers > and midwives is needed at all levels. It requires > time and commitment, as > well as knowledge and some communication and > networking skills.. we all > need to have them in lobbying.. not so easy, is it > and not everyone wants > it. > I've seen an interesting couple of points here for > the journal actually.. > cheers.. > Jan > > > > === >From Cathy Bock and Nigel Duncan. at BIRTHING HANDS (Homebirth, ante/post natal care and hospital support) [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
