Australian Private Midwives Association: 'midwifery models of care' in rural Queensland

Sunday, October 10, 2010

'midwifery models of care' in rural Queensland

[This account has de-identified the midwife and location. It is a clear example of the ridiculously restrictive environment in which midwives are required to practise.]

Letter

I have had various discussions with managers/project officers who are attempting to roll out hybrid 'midwifery models of care' for the rural sector. From my own personal observations -

It is clear that GP's are the primary carer with the midwife as the after thought so as not to upset them.
GP's are scared they will lose an income stream to their rural practice often with the right to private practice to the local hospital.
Managers do not want to lose the doctor as the rural community backlash will be fast and vicious (rightly so).
Higher places of office are providing non-reassuring advice to the facility managers, happy to provide details specific to my application verbally.
It is clear managers are thinking they can switch a midwife's hat on for a few hours of the day to provide antenatal care or birth care. Essentially they are employed as a nurse first.
It is clear until nursing workforce shortages are addressed there will be no change in practice in rural areas that ensure continuity of care with a known midwife as midwives 'offering' themselves to be in these new models are still being put on rosters and not annualised salaries plugging up nurse shortages. Burn out for midwives will occur rapidly.

Geographical boundaries in keeping care within local communities to ensure the care is local, owned by the consumer and feels safe (Rebirthing Report) are being ignored in the drive for efficiencies in combining some projects when viewed in a remote office in some districts.

WHO ARE WE?

The Australian Private Midwives Association represents midwives in private practice. The association is focused on the safety of women, the ability of women to access quality midwifery care across Australia and the partnerships between women and midwives. APMA supports women’s choice in maternity options within a framework of quality and safety and believes in women being able to access midwives in all settings. APMA unites all midwives seeking to provide continuity of care for women.

APMA strives to provide midwives in private practice with information relevant to their practice and advocacy in the political process.

Enquiries:
Joy Johnston joy@aitex.com.au
Marie Heath NSW and National 0407 266004
Clare Lane (Vic) 0416 130219

APMA POSITION STATEMENT on PLANNED HOME BIRTHS WITH A MIDWIFE

1. We support home birth with a midwife in attendance for women who have uncomplicated labours. 2. We support and adopt the International Confederation of Midwives’ (ICM) Definition of the Midwife (2011), which is foundational to all midwifery practice, including homebirth. 3. We support the right of every woman to access a midwife as the primary maternity caregiver who works in partnership with the woman throughout the episode of care, who is able to be the responsible professional in attendance at the birth either at home or hospital, and who is able to make appropriate referral and transfer of care when required. 4. We support the right of a midwife to practise privately in a fee-for-service or funded relationship with the client, or to take up employment. 5. We support only those regulatory restrictions that are able to pass the ‘public interest’ test: “How does this promote health and wellbeing in the mother and baby?” 6. We support an expectation of equity, including equal pay for equal work throughout a midwife’s scope of practice. Midwives who provide primary maternity care are entitled to the same public funding, the same opportunity to charge a fee-for-service, the same access to hospital referral, and publicly supported indemnity insurance, as medical practitioners providing the same maternity services. 7. We support processes by which midwives are able to gain experience and mentoring in order to commence and demonstrate competence in homebirth practice. 8. We support seamless and reliable processes by which midwives are able to make hospital bookings for women planning homebirth, and arrange transfer to the hospital in a timely way when needed.