There have been many messages around this project. Well done everyone, and
don't give up. There has to be a way to ensure that women can access best
practice midwifery care, and that midwives can practice midwifery. My
thoughts are with those who meet in Sydney tomorrow.
Remember there is no law that enshrines a right to choice. (the notion of
choice in maternity services has been promoted as what women want, along
with control and continuity of care - Changing Childbirth in the UK. Women
have to demand what they think is appropriate.) The law recognises a
competent person's right of refusal of medical treatment, but not a right
to dictate what a provider should do.
However there is a longstanding ethic of doing good and not doing harm. We
can argue that the evidence for midwife primary care and against the
Australian obstetric model should compel providers of maternity services to
promote (not just offer) midwife primary care.
Our Commonwealth government has put in place the Competition Policy
Agreement, and the ACCC as the watchdog body. Prof Fels and his colleagues
have acted decisively on many other matters. Statements about competition
and health care - that it should be the consumer's choice, and not the
judgment of the provider, what services are available UNLESS it can be
clearly demonstrated that people will be harmed by removal of restrictions
to competition - these need to be taken seriously.
Last night on the ABC (3LO) radio program about midwives, Sandy Gray from
the NZCOM stated that New Zealand now has evidence of falling rates of
neonatal mortality in the decade since 1990. That's very supportive
evidence, and I want to get my hands on it!
I have counted all the signatures that have come it for the Midwifery
Campaign petition. We are well over 1200. Please continue to collect these
signatures. You can download a petition form from the website
www.maternitycoalition.org.au The petition will support our claims when
we speak to the policy makers.
Keep up the good work everyone, and keep a clear vision of the goal
Joy Johnston
Ps I have been told by a reliable person that RCNA is very unhappy about
the Guild decision about midwives. Guild has sent the letter of notice
that they will not renew policies to midwives who are not even in clinical
practice, as well as the IPMs.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Robinson [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 6:48 AM
To: Sally Tracy
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: gathering facts around Prof. Indemnity Issue
<< File: ATT00000.htm >> << File: Meeting_Agenda.doc >> << File:
ATT00001.txt >> Dear Sally
Questions asked of ASIM members revealed most of the Victorian
members were insured with ANF so I don't know about payouts from them.
ALLEGED PAYOUTS
The only payout I heard of was in SA where they was a very small
payout (after 4 years of investigating) from an IPM where a woman
alleging she was in part responsible for her post-natal depression.
(the midwife stated she had borrowed money for the payout).There was
a payout from the hospital and the doctor involved as well. The
payout was given in order that the woman took her complaints no
further.
As far as I can gather there have been numerous complaints against
midwives from medicos (mostly through the AMA). Both Hope Island and
Guild have had to pay their lawyers to investigate these claims.
That is why the PI funds are running low. (no payouts though)
STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
I have contacted both the office of the Minister and the Chief Nurse
to be informed they are aware and 'working on this issue'. Both the
Minister, the Chief Nurse, the Executive Director of the Dept of
Health (or their representatives) have been invited to the meeting at
Dundas on Friday evening.
THE FINAL STRAW
All ASIMNSW IPMs who are insured have agreed to tell their clients
they will no longer be able to support them after their insurance
runs out and they will have to seek care at their local hospital.
This has bought on an outcry which I hope will be heard at the
meeting Friday evening.
Sally, you would be most welcome to attend the meeting, it has been
remiss of me in not inviting you before this. The stress of all this
alongside practice pressures has been put a great strain on the brain
cells, so your presence and support at the meeting would be
appreciated.
Attached is the amended agenda for the midwifery insurance meeting.
It will be held from 7pm to 9pm on Friday, 27 July 2001.
The venue will be:
Valhalla Room
Dundas Valley Rugby Union Football Club
35 Quarry Road, Dundas Valley (9638 4589)
Tea and Coffee will be $1.50
RSVP to Virginia Miltrup at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 02 9477 2740.
>Apart from the negotiations the College (ACMI) is involved in .........
>
>Does anybody have any info on payouts - large or small - for
>midwife associated cases within the past ten or fifteen years?
>Has anybody received any encouragement at all - to talk even -
>with their respective state health departments about the problem?
>Is this move the 'final straw' for some midwives who will now leave
>the profession and find other employment?
>Any other relevant info welcome.........send to ozmid or above
>e-address .......thanks
>Sally t
>
>--
>Sally K Tracy
>Australian Midwifery Action Project (AMAP)
>
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