[ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines

[Anne Clarke]

Dear All,   We are still being beaten around the head about using the ACMI referral guidelines.   Just today an obstetrician said 'well they (ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all Obstetricians'.   When the references were pointed out and the referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water on a ducks back.  Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from RANZCOG nothing else exists.   As you can tell from this the obstetricians want to use referral guidelines based on their interpretation and not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be the same for Midwives and obstetricians.  With a mindset like this obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset behind the facade of 'safety'.   Another issue is that they want a definition of 'low risk'.   I just want to scream! Anne Clarke Birth Centre, Brisbane