Dear Fran and list,
I also wholeheartedly agree with the ACMI position on these staffing levels.
This combined with the ANF's ceasing PIinsurance for Independent midwives,
is making me rethink my 24 year membership of their organisation. It
reflects the ANF's focus on midwifery as nursing. These staffing levels will
not empower midwives to pracitice midwifery let alone provide effective
nursing care. It will certainly not empower women in their journey to
motherhood.
Jenny Parratt
Independent Midwife Consultant
PO Mandurang Vic 3551 Australia
0409 393073
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: Fran Sheean <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 9:31 AM
Subject: Clinician/client ratios in Victoria
> The Australian College of Midwives Incorporated, Victorian Branch is
> appalled at the agreed upon ratios for midwives negotiated by the
> Australian Nurses Federation - Victorian Branch.
>
> The ANF believes that satisfactory care can be provided for women during
> pregnancy and childbirth with the following ratios.
>
> Morning shift: 1 midwife to 5 antenatal or postnatal women
> Afternoon shift: 1 midwife to 6 antenatal or postnatal women
> Night shift: 1 midwife to 10 antenatal or postnatal women.
>
> Midwives will be expected to care for 1.5 labouring women.
>
> To agree that midwives can adequately care for 1.5 women in labour
> undermines not only the profession but the very essence of women and
> families. What is important to the ANF - obviously not midwives or women
> and their families.
>
> It is well established that women have better outcomes, less intervention
> rates and greater satisfaction when they receive one on one care during
> labour. When caring for postnatal women midwives also provide care for
> their babies - in effect the ANF supports midwives caring for 20 clients
> (mothers and babies) overnight!
>
> Midwifery is facing a workforce crisis. Currently within this country it
> takes at least 5 years to become a midwife - the longest education
> timeframe for midwives in the world. The workforce is aging, we are not
> recruiting nor are we retaining midwives to ensure a safe level of care
for
> women in this country. Ratios such as these will do little to relieve the
> midwifery workforce crisis.
>
> The introduction of the above ratios by the ANF, without consultation of
> the professional organisation (ACMI Vic Branch), makes a mockery of what
> many midwives believed would be better working conditions and a subsequent
> improvement in care for women.
>
> The ACMI Vic Branch demands the ANF Vic Branch continue negotiations on
> behalf of midwives. ANF accepts membership fees from midwives but is
> obviously not representing them on industrial issues - what members pay
> their fees for.
>
> The ACMI Vic Branch urges midwives and mothers to contact the ANF voicing
> their concern about the negotiated ratios.
>
> Contact ACMI Vic Branch on 9349 1110 or me on 5444 7546 to voice your
> concerns.
>
>
> Fran Sheean
> President
> ACMI Vic Branch.
>
>
>
>
>
> Fran Sheean
> Lecturer in Midwifery and Nursing
> School of Health and Environment
> La Trobe University, Bendigo
> PO Box 199
> Bendigo 3552
>
> Phone +61 (0) 3 5444 7546
> Fax +61 (0) 3 5444 7977
> --
> This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
> Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
