November 19, 2002

Putting maternity reform on the political agenda

Now that I am back in Sydney, I am catching up with the very exciting developments that are happening around midwifery in New South Wales. There is much going on!

The Maternity Coalition have compiled a wonderful document that outlines how autonomous midwifery can be implemented in NSW within 3 years. It forms a companion piece to the National Maternity Action Plan (NMAP) that was launched in September and is designed to show that they have not just come up with a great idea, but also have worked out the means to implement it (an essential strategy if NMAP is to succeed, because if left to the politicians/bureaucrats to implement we would be waiting forever).

There will be an election in NSW before the end of March 2003, so the time is right for getting maternity services reform onto the political agenda. The Greens and Democrats have already endorsed NMAP and will incorporate it into their election platform, so the pressure is already starting to mount on Labour, who have been in power for many years and are due for a shake up.

Premier Bob Carr was effectively ambushed at the recent opening of a new hospital in Camden where the media chose to focus not on the new hospital, but on the brand spanking new Birth Centre that was not allowed to have any births because the obstetricians would not co-operate. The very vocal and colourful collection of mothers and babies demanding better services were a heady mix for the media. Apart from putting the Health Minister, Craig Knowles, firmly on the spot for this silly bureaucratic bungle, it also highlighted the general dissatisfaction at the lack on consultation with maternity care users over the broader plans for hospital closures and reorganisations across Sydney. The moves to close several smaller maternity units were immediately scrapped and the Health Minister who has been reluctant to consider midwifery up until now, is about to consult with the Maternity Coalition about their implementation plan for comprehensive one-to-one midwifery across the whole State.

Justine Caines, Sally Tracey, Denise Hynd, Barb Vernon, Jan Robinson and a host of others have all contributed mightily to this effort. They are amazing women and they have every right to expect that their efforts will succeed. Hats off to them!

Posted by andrea at November 19, 2002 02:27 PM

Comments

Agree. Glad you said that.

Posted by: Martin on January 8, 2004 01:01 PM

Comments

You may find it interesting to visit the sites about poker card, casino no deposit, online casino casions, gambling cash, blackjack sites, roulette casions, gamble tip, internet casino web, slot machine odds, online casino bonus deposit, online gamble game, casino gambling strategies, casino game strategies, las vegas table, video poker casinos, roulette online card, slot rule, blackjack online deposit, blackjack betting 3d, poker 888, gambling 8888, blackjack tip, poker on net, casino casions, casino gaming, gambling no deposit. .

Posted by: blackjack on January 19, 2004 08:32 AM

Comments

You may find it interesting to check the pages in the field of phentermine effect, zyban tablet, viagra cream, propecia for woman, online pharmacy prescriptions, tramadol mens, ultram 400mg, wellbutrin resistance, paxil overnight, meridia comparing, zyrtec online, xenical cheap, vioxx 12 5mg, vaniqa dosage, retin a canada pharmacy, prozac on line, generic viagra 10 pills, celexa woman, buy phentermine addiction, xenical capsules, ambien substitute, dilenyoung about, hopforyou pills, kip980 perscription medication, mng765 what is, pol_uri facts, piter_gordon mail order, miss20092000 2 month supply, robert_zed2003 fasten, fp292003 men, diagodream supplements, jacglen2003 can i, lisa_plamer products, gill_bern review, gtrgtr45 100mg, poklop2000 men`s, nolzer12 men`s, rtopopi mail order pharmacy, oklokol for woman, racertroy2003 information on, viagra information about, phentermine alternative. .

Posted by: fp292003 on January 21, 2004 02:23 PM