Re: [ozmidwifery] Frances Perry Sofitel programme?
Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] Frances Perry Sofitel programme? Hi Tania and all The Sydney Morning Herald ran a Photo on this appalling waste of money! (I know how I feel about it!!) 30% of private health insurance policies are paid for by us the taxpayer. Unless these women fund this themselves then it is an obscene abuse of public money. I wrote the following letter and it was published in the SMH on Wed 9 Feb. The red bit was cut, surprise!! I read with horror of the new mums pamper package SMH 5/6 Feb (paging room service please burp my baby). Is this where my tax dollars are going to fund the 30% private health insurance rebate? I am a mother of four in rural NSW. We have not had a maternity service for 13 years. During the course of a pregnancy a woman could drive in excess of 1500 kms for pregnancy care and then be forced to stay in a motel to await the birth, away from community support. This does not have to be the case. Many rural areas could have services returned through the establishment of community midwifery programs. The majority of women who have normal healthy pregnancies would be safer and better looked after than they currently are. To date the calls from rural women and health groups are being ignored by Health Minister Abbott and Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party, John Anderson. It seems theyd rather serve the big end of town in five star hotels. Will a rural woman or baby need to die before they act? Justine Caines Merriwa NSW
[ozmidwifery] Frances Perry Sofitel programme?
Hello everyone, Just wanting to know if there's anyone out there who is working in, or knows about the Frances Perry Sofitel programme? Apparently (according to a prominent parenting website) this hospital is employing 'nurses' 24/7 for women who have had a normal birth, and the women leave the hospital, and stay at the hotel for 2-3 nights with the round the clock care from a 'nurse'. I'm a bit blown away by it, not sure what I think. I suppose my mind is saying, if these well women, who have birthed normally, can stay at a hotel one day after they have given birth, then why do they need a specialist for birth? Why is their health insurance company paying for this? Why aren't they home? I dunno, it just seems like another way for a private hospital to appeal to their market. I wonder what their usage is, given that here in SA our private hospital stats regarding 'normal' birth are appalling, I can't imagine it would be used very much here. But all the same, it would perpetuate the illusion that the women are getting the best care. H...and are these midwives or nurses providing the post-natal care? Tania
