Re: [ozmidwifery] Question on Notice to Tony Abbott re antenatal item issue and rural doctors

[Justine Caines]

Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] Question on Notice to Tony Abbott re antenatal item issue and rural doctors

Dear Barb, Melissa and all

I too live in rural Aust and understand the issues esp that there are many good EN’s out there.  We have a local one who is doing the Bmid at UTS (hooray!).

I guess the point is that if the opening up of Medicare Item number 16400 goes through then this will be able to happen.

Essentially with Mr Abbott’s approach there is no need for midwives to exist.  I use the building analogy.  It is like saying to an Electrician - “Sorry we won’t support you doing your trade, and by the way we will also enable Carpenters and Plumbers to do electrical work, after al they are all in the building industry!!”

These moves affect EVERY midwife, because they totally disregard midwifery expertise (despite many hard-fought wins of recent years to distingusih nursing from midwifery)  This goes backwards from what we had before.

Remember this will also enable GP’s without a Dip Obs to provide antenatal care and essentially oversee a RN without midwifery.

Naturally, if midwives were employed on a ‘caseload basis’ even in small rural areas units could operate.  Also managers would be better placed recruiting straight RN’s for A&E etc etc rather than the RN/RM issue.  Get midwives as midwives and RN’s as RN’s.  Not rocket science!!

In solidarity

Justine