Title: Tuesday 23 April Call Talkback Radio, wherever you are!!!!!
Hello Again
I am aware that many women live nowhere near Canberra and therefore the rally is impossible. I suggest we make April 23 a DAY OF ACTION across the country. Every woman no matter where she is as long as she has access to a phone can contribute.
I am asking everyone to call their local radio talkback program or even local radio station if you don’t have talkback and raise the issue. Many talkback programs are syndicated across states and come through local stations.
The points to raise are:
Today, Tuesday 23 April, the Government is looking at the medical indemnity, independent midwives are the only maternity health professional to have lost their insurance and they have been excluded from the meeting.
Midwife led care has long been proven to be the most appropriate and cost effective care for the majority (around 80%) of women.** This statement comes from the World Health Organisation (the approp care thing is WHO, the 80% statistic comes from Enkin et al in their effective care book).
We need to talk about women being cared for by a known midwife for the entire episode, regardless of where she chooses to have her baby. I think it is important especially with the shock jocks not to use the word homebirth, another homebirth Mum who is a journo agrees we want a model of care in the setting the woman chooses, but we don’t want to be marginalised by the anti- homebirth garbage!
The Federal Government is throwing money at a problem rather than fixing it. Maternity services are broken in this country. We know greater access to midwife care will not only provide better outcomes for women and babies but it will be cheaper!!
The Federal Government has put $35 million dollars into the medical profession’s main indemnity insurer, United Medical Protection (UMP). What will this do to help change the care that women and babies receive?
It is accepted that our population is in decline. If we do not allow women the fundamental right of where they give birth and with who, how can we promote motherhood.
In NZ women are now able to choose their lead carer (midwife, GP or Obstetrician). In 8 years the percentage of women choosing a midwife to care for them went from 14% to 72%. We know women prefer the care of a midwife for the entire episode and yet less than 5% of Australian women can choose this, WHY????
I am including a listing of talkback programs and their numbers in various states.
We will fax all “shock jocks” and others a media release so they are a little informed on the issue.
RADIO NATIONAL – National Coverage
Australia Talks Back (NATIONAL) Mon- Fri 6- 7pm Phone :1800 802 341 Sandy
McCutcheon.
ABC SYDNEY (702 AM) – Sally Loan 9am –12 noon
Phone: 9333 1000
2UE Syndicated across the nation– John Laws 9 am – 11am and others throughout the day.
Local Stations that broadcast John Laws and other talkback hosts
Sydney 2UE
Melbourne 3AW
Adelaide 5AA A National Number 131332 (local call cost)
Brisbane 4BC
Perth 6PR
Canberra 2CC
Macquarie National News – 2GB Sydney
With the one and only Alan Jones Phone:131873
Now all we need are your calls!
Thanks for your support
Justine Caines
Maternity Coalition
