[ozmidwifery] Update - Invititation and Support Documents

[Robyn Thompson]

Title: Dear Federal Parliamentarian

Liz Willis has cirulated this to all Parliamentarians via their internal mail. I am sending you a copy again, previously sent by attachments, some did not get through because of the limitation rules on [EMAIL PROTECTED] Leanne did warn me about this. Habitual behavior with attachment of documents - my problem. Best wishes to all. Robyn     Dear Federal Parliamentarian,   We are writing to inform you of a crisis affecting the safe birthing of babies and the health of mothers and babies.   Currently there are shortages across the maternity workforce, and now more than ever, every maternity health professional must be supported to work appropriately and to their full capacity.   Private practising registered midwives are the only health professionals who have not been assisted with professional indemnity insurance and are being prevented from working. They also do not have access to Medicare Provider Numbers.   Many midwives choose to work privately in rural and regional areas providing safe and sustainable services. This alleviates considerable pressure on metropolitan units, which are often understaffed, to meet demand and also provides choice in private healthcare. Currently maternity services accessible through private health funds are anti-competitive and unnecessarily expensive.   When local midwives are unable to provide this service many rural and regional women are placed in unacceptable danger. Midwives are able to provide a full maternity service for healthy women (around 80% of women) from early pregnancy, through labour and birth until 6 weeks after the birth.   Private practising midwives have provided an exemplary service for over 40 years.  Please support our request to be treated as other maternity health professionals (General Practitioners and Obstetricians) with professional indemnity insurance assistance and access to Medicare Provider Numbers, by signing the statement attached. Jan Robinson                                    Robyn Thompson   3 June 2005   If you support our aims, please sign the statement (attached) and return by 14 June to Robyn Thompson on fax number 03 9398 3202(f)   You are invited to a morning tea and briefing at Parliament House, Canberra on Wednesday 15 June in Committee Room 2S2 at 10.30am hosted by Senator Aden Ridgeway.   This will be followed by a media launch at 11am   Please join us to show your support for private practising midwives.   RSVP: Robyn Thompson   0418 324 058     [EMAIL PROTECTED]             : Sally-Anne Brown  02 4229-6493     [EMAIL PROTECTED]           Affordable and Sustainable Maternity Care across Australia.   There is a crisis in maternity services in Australia. Metropolitan units are overcrowded; rural units are being closed and there is a shortage of maternity health professionals.  Every woman needs a midwife; some women also need medical care. Midwives working in private practice are the only health professionals who have not been assisted with indemnity insurance.  Many of these midwives currently practise in regional and rural areas.   In this current crisis every maternity health professional needs to be working to their full capacity.    In the interests of safe and sustainable care for women in rural, regional and metropolitan areas we support the call by the Australian Midwifery Indemnity Campaign to the Federal Government to assist private practising midwives secure indemnity insurance and Medicare Provider Numbers.     Signed:                ____________________________        Print Name:         ____________________________   Date:                    ___________________     Thank you for your support.   Please return this statement by fax to Robyn Thompson by 14 June 03 9398 3202(f)