Below is the response of Obs in the Australian to the current situation and
Prof Kathleen Fahy's article
Definitely not only a time for succint (130 words) to the editor but also
more visists to local MLA and Senators
Denise Hynd
"Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the
sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by
anyone, our bodies will be handled."
- Linda Hes
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 3:43 AM
Obstetricians rally to fight birth of midwife units
Adam Cresswell, Health editor
August 29, 2005
DOCTORS are preparing to fight a renewed bid by midwives for greater
independence by lobbying for Medicare funds to allow obstetricians to employ
them in their private practices.
The industrial body representing Australia's 800 practising obstetricians is
strongly opposed to an independent role for midwives, who are seeking
Medicare rebates to allow them to see private patients independently.
The National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,
which has 600 members, said a statement earlier this month on stand-alone
midwife units by the official standards body - the Royal Australian and New
Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - was "pissweak" and
insisted such units were "crazy" and fundamentally unsafe.
The NSW Government has already established two midwife-led birthing units.
The RANZCOG statement issued on August 4 said merely that "wherever
possible, and certainly in metropolitan areas" midwife-led units should be
within or next to 24-hour obstetric facilities, with full anaesthetic
facilities and operating theatres.
The NSW midwife centres, at Ryde in Sydney and Belmont near Newcastle, are a
15-minute ambulance ride from the nearest tertiary hospital. Both units
accept only low-risk women, and neither offers anaesthesia.
But NASOG chairman Scott Giltrap said all the relevant professions -
obstetricians, midwives, anaesthetists, pediatricians, GPs and ancillary
staff - had to work as a team to provide safe care.
Under the plan put to federal Health Minister Tony Abbott, midwives would be
employed by obstetricians in their private practices and a new Medicare
rebate would be created based on the existing example of funding
arrangements for nurses in GP surgeries. In general practices, the nurses
are employed by doctors and work under their supervision. If the service is
bulk-billed, the Medicare payment is paid directly to the employing doctor.
"We certainly don't think (Mr Abbott) should be supporting stand-alone
midwife units," Dr Giltrap said. "But we are keen on talking to him about
how to integrate midwives more into the team, and whether there's the
possibility of funding, particularly in private obstetrics."
Although midwives pointed to much higher rates of midwife-led births in
Europe, Dr Giltrap claimed Australian midwives were not as well trained as
their European counterparts and Australian standards were often higher than
those in Europe.
In todays Australian
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