In a message dated 3/08/01 3:49:18 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Dear Ms Pettigrew
I agreewith you wholeheartedly that midwifery presents a crucial option for
Australian women. I hope you caught the release of our medical indemnity
policy a few days ago in Adelaide - if not you can find it at our website at
www.alp.org.au.
Kind regards,
Kim C Beazley
Leader of The Opposition
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
>>
Dear Mr. Beazley,
thank you for your reply to my communication Re: Midwives lose their
professional indemnity cover.
I took up your invitation to review Labour's policy on medical indemnity
reform, and was delighted to see Labour's support for the rights of women to
chose their place of birth and caregiver. This is very encouraging.
Further to this issue I would like to request as a matter of urgency that the
ALP further demonstrate its commitment to the midwifery profession and
recognise midwives as autonomous practitioners who work for the public good
and as such should have access to the same medical rebates and
government/state funded professional indemnity schemes as medical providers
of the same maternity service.
I sincerely hope that the ALPs medical indemnity reform package and policies
can and will see that equity of access for midwives to such medical rebates
and government/state funded professional indemnity schemes will come to
fruition, when Labour wins the next federal election!
The women and midwives of Australia, together with support from the ALP could
further build on the good work of the previous Labour government (Alternative
Birthing Services Review and initiatives) in maternity care. Together we can
further develop a woman-centered maternity service for all Australian women
which recognises and supports midwives as the most appropriate and cost
effective type of health care provider to be assigned to the care of normal
pregnancy and normal birth, including risk assessment and the recognition of
complications.
Supporting the ALP to support Australian women and midwives.
Yours in better birth,
Tina Pettigrew.
Independent Childbirth Educator
Aspiring Bachelor of Midwifery Midwife
Convenor, Aust. Bachelor of Midwifery Student Collective.
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
