-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Cudlipp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Saturday, 14 August 1999 11:24
Subject: Re: Negative Effects of Being a Caseload Midwife
>Dear Kathleen
>I am reposting a reply I made to Trish Davis' enquiry about on-calls as it
>seems relevant to your question too.
>As a footnote (if a footnote can come at the start!?)
>I have just had my first on-call with the new trial method and it worked
>thus:
>I worked a rostered shift yesterday from 7-14.30, the oncoming midwife for
>the team received a call from a primip in labour just before I left, she
was
>admitted and was in early labour with an OP position.
>My colleague rang me at 6pm to say I would be needed to relieve her at
9.30.
>I managed a short rest on the settee and returned. The client birthed at
>0250
>I was able to leave at 0600. My rostered shift for today is 1400-2130 but
>according to the conditions of on-call, I have to have 10 hours break, so
>will not return till 1600, without loss of pay.
>You may well wonder why I am not asleep now! - My husband had a prior
>commitment this morning and we have three children, so I have had a couple
>of hours and plan to have a few more when he returns.
>Financially it was a profitable night for me, physically I dont feel too
bad
>at the moment, as I only work part-time I do at least get the chance to
>catch up on Monday!
>We are committed to making this 'compromise' work and the team are all
quite
>positive - I know from past experience there will be unforeseen problems
but
>we hope that we will at least be able to keep our birth centre running this
>way. Bottom line is that all our clients will receive good, safe, midwife
>care and medical care when appropriate. As we are such a small BC there
has
>always been the possibility that the room may be occupied when women come
in
>so the clients have always been made aware of this - in fact this happened
>last night- there was another BC lady in at the same time, both birthed
>within a couple of hours, but the second one to arrive was cared for by
>midwives rostered to delivery ward that night - her birth and care were as
>she wished, and she had no interference with her labour.
>
>Anyway - here is the rest of the post - hope it is helpful, the problems of
>this sort of system are very real to those working the long hours. In the
>original BC format I have spent up to 22 hours with one labouring woman -
>one has to question the safety of this! Not least of which is the issue of
>driving home in such a tired state!
>Regards, Sue
>
>>Dear Trish
>I don't know about research but our Family Birth Centre at Swan District
>Hospital is threatening to close ( again!) This time due mainly to 'midwife
>burn-out'.
>We are trialing a three month compromise which is more midwife friendly,
but
>less client friendly. It means that the women will not get to know their
>midwife in the same way that was previously managed, and stand a higher
>chance of transferring into the unit for staffing acuity reasons rather
than
>medical ones.
>I worked for 15 months in the FBC when it first opened, without a holiday,
>and only part-time but I know how tough it was for me on a personal level
to
>cope with the on-calls and have a life too!
>I am one of the new team for this trial period and hope that it is
>successful - but there are many doubts!
>Regards, Sue
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Trish David <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Thursday, 12 August 1999 9:32
>Subject: on call
>
>
>>Dear Listners
>>Does anyone have any information on research whcih has been conducted into
>>the effects of being 'on-call' on midwives or nurses? I have a friend
>>doing a masters project looking at these effects on NNICU nurses doing
NETS
>>transports. Your help would be of enormous benefit. Ta. Trish
>>--
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Ozmidwifery <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Thursday, 12 August 1999 13:10
>Subject: Negative Effects of Being a Caseload Midwife
>
>
>>Here in Toowoomba we are working towards a submission for caseload
>midwifery
>>within the mainstream health services.
>>
>>We expect about 10% of women to take up the offer of MMC (I know, we are
>>still going to move ahead in spite of what has happened at John Hunter).
>>
>>The midwives on the unit have asked me to ask midwives who have made the
>>switch from traditional shift work to caseload to describe what the
>>transition was like and particularly focus on the perceived negatives of
>>being on-call and maybe spending long hours at some labours.
>>
>>I would appreciate your responses which I will then share with interested
>>midwives.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Kathleen
>>
>>Dr. Kathleen Fahy
>>Associate Professor
>>Midwifery Co-ordinator
>>University Southern Queensland
>>07 46312377
>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>--
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>
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