Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: PI Insurance - urgent - more interested midwives needed

[Jo Watson]

I agree and disagree, Tania. I believe there IS an us and them.  I am a hospital based Midwife... I see 'them' homebirth based Midwives and look up to and admire them for their experience and expertise in home birth.  I look at the hospital based Midwives I work with and also admire their experience and expertise, but most know nothing about homebirth, and wouldn't ever practice in that way.  As a hospital based Midwife, I am insured by the hospital, and by the ANF.  Those homebirth Midwives don't have an 'overseer' and don't need one, so they, too, need insurance.  They are practitioners in their own right, and refer on to Doctors if needs be.  In the hospital we are all a multidisciplinary team working to look after all of the women. That's why I see there is an us and them.  Them need insurance, us already have it.  :) Jo On 05/09/2006, at 5:27 PM, Tania Smallwood wrote: Andrea said…“I dont think you will get midwives who only work in hospital to be interested even though I think they should be”     I think this is a key quote that also deserves some discussion…whilst on one hand we are all fighting for recognition as a profession separate to nursing, and we want to be seen as a united front to further the campaign for improving maternity services throughout Australia, on the other hand we are pursuing an insurance offer that yet again divides us as a profession.  Nicky Leap said…a midwife is a midwife is a midwife…???  I feel like this quest for insurance that is specific to IPM’s could be seen by midwives, the AMA, politicians, and most importantly women, as a divisive move, and I don’t think ultimately it can benefit us in our quest to improve the public persona of the midwife.    I really want to have access to insurance, not be forced into having it.  I want to be able to purchase insurance that will cover me for any activities I take in the name of midwifery, in or out of the hospital setting, where I am being paid a wage, or where I am donating my time.  In my wildest dreams I’d like to think that every midwife working anywhere as a midwife would consider it a string to his or her professional bow to be insured as well as registered.  That’s something that they have done in NZ, attach the insurance to the membership of the professional body, the NZCOM, and membership of the body is a necessary step to obtaining registration as a midwife.  That way, all midwives are members of the professional body, and all midwives are insured.  I know that’s a simplistic way of looking at it, but it really worries me that we are getting caught up in something that perpetuates an us and them attitude that has already gone on for too long…   Tania   -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/437 - Release Date: 4/09/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/437 - Release Date: 4/09/2006