Another thing to remember is to keep copies of anything you send/write - these types of letters are notorious for 'disappearing' withing the mire of process. It is important to also cc relevant documentation from your perspective to ALL of the relevant people in each department, also to Human Rights/Health Rights, ACMI, union so all key people are made aware of the situation concurrently. The cc's to hospital personnel let the hospital staff know you are serious and concerned enough to take the issue further, because it's amazing how the ranks close, and how rarely constructive actions result.
It has worked for me in the past and good solutions were found that met all peoples needs for many years following just one incident. Keep the fires burning Sue - it IS worth it, even though it doesn'e seem to be at the moment. The tiredness from repeatedly having to 'fight' for women and the sheer bloody frustration is a killer (of passion, of belief and of midwives) at times. There are ways to make changes and you are and have been a very significant part of what has been achieved. (:-} ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrea Robertson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 7:12 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Human rights/women's rights/rigid policies > Hi Sue, > > I intend to focus on the basic issues such as personal freedoms, women's > rights, patient's rights etc. Policies are not mandates, but guidelines - > and common sense should prevail. In the end, if women are treated better > they will be less likely to sue as a final resort in difficult circumstances. > > The underlying problem we both faced was that the staff were fearful > because of their own lack of skills and so they reacted defensively. > Hospitals cannot afford to employ underskilled people who lack basic > midwifery know-how because it places their institutions at risk (of > catastophes and of being sued). It is the hospital's responsibility to make > sure that staff are well trained and competent, and I think that midwives > have some of that responsibility as well, especially if they want to be > employed. Perhaps you could include some of these ideas in your > letter. The emotional stuff must go in as well, because it is valid and > points to the trauma you suffered as a result of the staff's actions. > > I remember the story that went around a couple of years ago about how the > policy on water births in Lismore Hospital was changed when one couple made > it clear (in writing) during the labour, that if the plug was pulled in the > bath, she would sue. It took a week for the policy to be removed. > This story really cheered everyone up at the time and was a good example > of how action is sometimes needed to force and issue. Perhaps you can > devise a similar strategy for women who plan hospital births in your area > if your letter and other feedback doesn't do the trick. THe only way to get > experience is to have practice, so forcing the issue may be a roundabout > way of making sure they get the practice (and experience)! > > As I read your story, it seemed that lack of communication and listening to > the woman's requests was the heart of the matter. You don't need data and > research to back a complaint about this - you just need to let them know > how the woman (and you) felt about it. I would include the direct quotes > from your message in the letter you sent and also the comments about the > looks you received and the impressions created. Feelings and emotions > cannot be denied, because they are real. No-one can say that you didn't > feel them, because you did. > > I wonder if a face-to-face meeting with the midwives and doctors that were > invovled would help? It may sound too daunting, but unless they get the > feedback they may never know how you felt, and their managers may never > raise these issues with them. A meeting like this may enable you to resolve > some of your own feelings and if you stick to "I" messages, and make > assertive, not aggressive statements, then it may have some useful > outcomes. May be another way to tackle this issue....? > > Hope some of this helps - and I hope you can begin to resolve some of your > grief through taking some appropriate action. Best wishes with the > struggle..... we are allwith you on this one! > > Warm regards, > > Andrea > > > > At 05:44 PM 6/01/2003, Sue Cookson wrote: > >Hi Andrea, > >Thankyou for your lovely words and some help in the direction I can take > >here. Do you have specific information/data/policies you will be referring > >to when writing to the hospital re your recent awful circumstance? I would > >really like to include information other than the emotive stuff I felt. > > > ----- > Andrea Robertson > Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education > > e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > web: www.birthinternational.com > > > -- > 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.
