Dear Kathleen,
In Western Australia the Hospitals Act authorises medical practitioners and
dentists as the only people who can practice in a hospital. In part 3 the
Minister for Health can authorise other people if he chooses, But, he
doesn't choose to. We have been through this when we lost our
accredititation. Now, 2 places allow us to be employed on a casual basis to
care for women who want one on one midwifery care. The other hospitals are
ruled by the Medical Advisory committees and will have nothiing to do with
us. Same old same old. Regards, Mary murphy
----- Original Message -----
From: john mcdonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 12:23 PM
Subject: Re: Why can't we practise as midwives in hospitals?
> In Tassy the Nursing Act stated that we were only allowed to practice
under
> the supervision of a doctor, so, we had to follow their directions. The
Act
> now states "the nurse is authorised to practice in the restricted practice
> areas, if any, subject to the conditions, if any, specified in the
> certificate". Midwifery is considered a restriced area of practice. This
> act was designed to allow practitioner rights and slipped through without
a
> murmur from the medicos.
> The only restrictions on midwifery practice that I know about (apart from
> the registering ones, poisons act etc) is hospital policy. This policy in
> the RHH is clearly documented.
> Interestingly, 1.4 of the ANCI competencies states that "Identifies unsafe
> practice and respomds appropriately to ensure a safe outcome.
> * Interventions which prevent care being compromised and/or law
contravened
> are identified
> * Appropriate action to be taken in specified circumstances is identified
> * Alternative strategies for intervention and their likely outcomes are
> identified and explained
> * Behaviour that is detrimental to acheiving optimal care is identified
> * incidents of unsafe practice are followed up to prevent re-occurence"
>
> The Nursing Board in Tassy uses these competencies (and others) all the
> time to assess fitness to practice.
> So.............. I guess individual practice is limited by the mother's
> wishes, the midwife's courage and convictions and the culture/support of
> the unit.
> Regards
> Helen McDonald
>
> At 12:18 26/08/99 +1000, you wrote:
> >
> >This question may seem naive but I really can't get a clear answer?
> >
> >What policy or legislation requires hospital midwives to follow medical
> >protocols? For example: where do midwives stand if they don't do
regular
> >VEs, avoids using oxytocins or keep descriptive notes rather than use a
> >partogram?
> >
> >I can find no legislation in Qld (which doesn't mean it doesn't exist but
it
> >is not in the nursing act and I'm told it is not in the health services
> >act).
> >
> >A midwifery administrator tells me that the only way in which midwives
are
> >required to follow medical protocols is that if they don't they will not
be
> >covered by the hospital's vicarious liability insurance.
> >
> >Does anyone know anymore?
> >
> >
> >Dr. Kathleen Fahy
> >Associate Professor
> >Midwifery Co-ordinator
> >University Southern Queensland
> >07 46312377
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
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