I totally agree Denise. As professional midwives we also need the authority to order our own drugs (and there would have to be a limitation on what that list includes) including the full list of emergency oxytocics, anti-D, vitamin K, and possibly but not necessarily relevant vaccinations: hep B, rubella etc.. There are overseas Health Department protocols/statutes/regulations for this, i am not reinventing the wheel. Along with this goes the authority to order our own lab tests from the path labs. I don't understand why in the 21st century we have to find a friendly doctor to get this done. As midwives in the country we are either qualified to practice independently or we are not. How would you feel if your dentist had to get a prescription from your GP before she gave you novacaine for a filling? And she didn't carry emergency drugs on her premises when she was treating you?
As a licensed midwife in Washington State I had to carry the full complement of emergency oxytocics, plus mag suphate, plus epinephrine, and we were licensed to carry anti-D and the vaccinations in our premises. We had standing orders from an OB for intrapartum IV antibiotics. We had our own account with a pharmaceutical company. I don't know of anyone who ever used the mag suphate or epinephrine in the last 30 years of practice but the drug was there along with the procedure taped to our bag and the forms for notification of the health dept IF we ever did have to use either of these drugs. Getting oxygen cylinders filled up was a simple procedure. And the path labs picked up our samples from our collection boxes and faxed us the results. From what I have read the situation is similar in New Zealand and Canada, I have no idea about the UK. These basics of independent practice seem to be glossed over here perhaps because many of you who practice independently have had the good fortune of knowing sympathetic/empathetic docs. But for those of us starting out in a new place the issue around finding these basics can itself be formidable. Compound that with the insurance fiasco and the apparent acceptance of the status quo by most (not all) health care recipients (sorry but I do have a dreadfully hard time with the word consumer for just about everything but especially health care) and it does not surprise me that we have such an ever diminishing number of independent midwives. 4am and jet lagged marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Denise Hynd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 3:31 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth in Aust > Dear Andrea > I will look at coming to Sydney for Maggie's workshop.. > I am currently working a Nursing Home!! > > I have tried Private Practis and would again tomorrow if I could earn enough > to pay my mortgage (which is low) and feed myself and put petrol in my car!! > > It takes a while to biuld up a practice! > I tried all sorts of things for 2 years and had 5 clients!! > > So it takes more than confidence. > > That is why I have been busy with MC and NMAP. > Also I have tried to get a program on ABC Australian Story and Reality Bites > about 1-2-1 midwifery (something in piepline for GNT as a result tho). > > Even Perth women believe hospital and doctors are necessary for birth the > demand beyond the CMP is insufficient to full employ those midwives and many > of them also have a few private clients.. > > Australian women and midwives need to see Australian led midwifery birth on > TV. > > Have I mised something was there any discussion of the Birthrites program > ?? > Denise Hynd > > "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, > indeed, they are the only ones who ever have." > Margaret Mead > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Andrea Robertson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 8:36 AM > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth summary forms > > > > Hi Liz, > > > > I know that you are not the only midwife working within the system who > > would love to take the plunge and become and independent practitioner. > Many > > have told me that what is stopping them is a lack of confidence. > > > > To help all these aspiring independent practitioners (and those who want > to > > feel more authoritative within the system), we have asked Maggie Banks to > > present her highly acclaimed Midwifery Intensives workshop in Sydney in > > November. This 2 1/2 day course covers dealing with midwifery emergencies > > (a bit like the ALSO Course, but with a midwifery focus not a medical > model > > approach) and is designed to instill confidence, improve practical skills, > > > provide an evidence base for practice and encourage autonomy. The full > > details will be on the web site next week and in the catalogue that is > > coming out on 2 weeks. > > > > This might be just what you need, and lot closer to home. > > > > Warm regards, > > > > Andrea > > > > > > > > At 07:29 PM 14/07/2004, you wrote: > > >Hi Jan, > > >thanks so much for your post. I too would love to work outside the > > >hospital system however being a recent graduate and having no-one to > > >"apprentice" me, I lack the confidence to do so. I feel my only option is > > >to work overseas for a while (an expensive option with 3 children and > > >partner in tow). In the meantime I embrace the wise-woman knowledge I > > >encounter on this list. I have another question too. The docs where I > work > > >have the fear that the cervix will close before the placenta can birth. I > > >think this is their reasoning for manual removals if they are not out in > > >the specified time frame. Is this because of the syntocinon given for > > >medically managed third stage, or is this a realistic possibility also > for > > >physiological third stage? Once again, forgive my ignorance. > > >blessings, > > >Liz. > > > > > > ----- > > 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. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. 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