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Northern Territory supports independent midwifery

At last., some great news about independent midwifery in Australia. A few months ago, as I wrote in a previous Diary entry, the Northern Territory brought in legislation that unintentionally precludes midwives from practising independently unless they had professional indemnity insurance. Suddenly, without warning, a number of women who had planned home births in the coming months were left without a caregiver, and those midwives offering home birth services were barred from working in that field.

There was a huge outcry, led by the women of the Maternity Coalition, ably backed by the midwives and several local politicians, who were aware of the problem and keen to have it rectified. The resultant decision is a triumph for people power and for women of conviction.

On November 18, the Northern Territory Minister for Health announced that there would be a revue of maternity services in the NT, and that midwives would be able to continue offering homebirths, covered by the Government’s own insurance scheme. The details are to be put in place, but it appears the current crisis is over.

The smallest of our States and Territories is leading the way in Australia, and it is to be hoped that other States sit up and take notice. Earlier in the week, an Upper House Committee in Western Australia recommended that the current arrangement in WA for the funding of 150 home births per year through the Community Midwifery Program be extended so that more women could choose this option.

There is still talk of funding for home births in NSW through the Department of Health, with the Government providing indemnity insurance for midwives. This policy was announced in February of this year, but the departure of the Chief Nurse, who was a firm advocate for this service, seems to have stalled the plans.

Eventually, I feel sure we will have publicly funded home births and independently practising midwives will have their indemnity insurance covered by the Government (either State or Federal) so that home birth will be an option for women everywhere across the country. Small steps towards this goal have been taken this week, and the journey may seem endless, but I believe we will get there!

Posted by andrea at November 21, 2004 07:30 PM

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