>Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 22:35:49 +0930 >To:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Paul & Maxine) >Subject:Re: Direct entry and rural birthing > >Elaine >Your concerns struck a chord with me having experienced the >difficulties/conflicts/frustrations of being employed in a rural hospital >as a nurse/midwife and also being a pregnant woman in an isolated area >with minimal choice in carers/place of birth. In fact for me it was a >major factor in not continuing in hospital work. > >I do believe though that although you have concerns that direct entry will >have an effect on options in rural areas, we are actually talking about >two separate issues. > >The first is the fact that midwifery is not seen as a profession in its >own right but instead a specialty of nursing with the ensuing problems of >which i am sure we are all aware. Direct entry will hopefully begin to >address some of these problems. > >The second issue is the cold, ugly fact that we do not live in a society >where all have access to equal standards of health care. Blame this on >the government if you will (i frequently do!) but in reality, we, as a >nation have voted them in to manage our public health care in this way. >While we, as a society, make these choices (or don't by way of apathy) the >people with the loudest voices and the dollars will continue to get the >cream of the services, public health care generally will continue to >dwindle and in the meantime public money goes into subsidising the private >health system. > >You, yourself admit that rural services are diminishing at a rapid rate >and choice is an absolute unknown to many in our country - not only women >or people in rural areas. This is a problem NOW and has nothing to do >with direct entry. Medicos are also hard to find/keep in rural areas and >that has nothing to do with direct entry ( I believe also the same could >be said of banks!). > >I share your concern but I think we need a bigger solution than looking at >whether direct entry is going to have an impact on rural hospital >staffing. Perhaps in our brave new midwives-as-independant-professionals >world - midwives will be working in rural and remote areas either as >private practitioners or on a caseload basis so that they aren't paid for >sitting around an empty midwifery unit. Or perhaps there will still be >those amongst us who wish to have (earn) qualifications in both fields and >work as remote practitioners caring for all members of their community. > >I hope someone else has something to offer on this subject as I too do not >feel great hope for rural and remote services (let alone those to >Aboriginal womenin isolated areas) in the current political climate but I >would like to think that midwives as an autonomous group may have more >political clout than at present. > >Looking forward to others opinions >Maxine Wilson > > Maxine Wilson -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
