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Dressing for the part

There was a moment during yesterday’s workshop in Melbourne that we were able to reflect on the unique nature of Australia and Australians.

Some of the midwives in the group work in rural areas and they started sharing stories about they way they work with the GPs, who provide emergency back up for their maternity units. Most of the time the births are capably managed by the midwives, but when a problem occurs they call the local GP who comes to assist. Birth being unpredictable, these calls can interrupt the doctor at unexpected moments and we heard of occasions when one doctor turned up wearing pyjamas, another arrived in bike shorts and cyclists helmet, and another time when the doctor arrived wearing muddy Wellington boots and farm overalls.

One midwife, when she was new to the unit, asked a man sitting in the waiting room wearing trackie pants, a “Quicksilver” T- shirt and very old trainers, if he needed assistance. “No” he said, “I’m the anaesthetist”!

These midwives know to warn the labouring woman that the man who will becoming is the doctor - so they will be prepared for whatever he looks like. In an emergency, no-one is worried about sartorial elegance, just professional competence, but it must cause a few giggles when the crisis is over.

I couldn’t help thinking of the fanatical zeal with which some infection control and occupational health and safety people stalk the hospitals seeking our “transgressions”. I wonder what they would make of this casual, yet practical approach adopted in Australian rural areas!

Posted by andrea at May 19, 2004 11:41 AM

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