November 13, 2003

New midwifery unit for Ryde

Barbara Vernon, the EO of the Australian College of Midwives called today and we were able to discuss the developments within midwifery in Australia. The push for implementing caseload models of midwifery care and midwifery only units is gathering pace and some exciting projects are almost ready for launch.

In the Northern Sydney Area Health Service, one of the smaller hospitals, which was due to close, will be re-launched as a stand alone midwifery service in February. There will be no on-site anaesthetic service nor resident doctors available at all times. Midwives will offer all the care, referring complications and difficulties to doctors at the nearby Royal North Shore Hospital, which is a major tertiary care centre.

It has taken a huge effort to convince the management at Ryde of the safety and practicality of operating the hospital in this new way. The evidence is so strong, and has been so ably collated and presented by Sally Tracy that they have realised how sensible and effective the service will be.

Naturally, the obstetricians who had private practices at the Hospital were not happy about the proposed changes and they threatened to withdraw their services if the project went ahead. At an apparently stormy meeting, they blustered that they would walk out if the hospital management did not put a stop to the changes. The managers (I am told) stood an opened the door!

Underpinning the success of this project has been the establishment of a set of guidelines for the consultation procedures that will govern the way the midwives and doctors work together around the referral of women from midwifery to medical care, when necessary. The Ontario guidelines were used as the basis for drawing up a consultation document with input from New Zealand and the UK. In addition, the proposed guidelines were widely discussed with salaried obstetricians who work within the public sector for their professional input.

The final consultation document is almost ready for printing. It will be published by the ACMI and made available in all states, in an effort to get standardisation across State borders and provide a unified approach to the provision of midwifery care. It will be an invaluable resource for the midwives in other States who are also working hard on developing new models of care.

Barbara Vernon is spearheading a wonderful revolution within the ACMI. Her energy, vision, skills and passion are just what the College needs right now. She is committed to establishing a transparent, vibrant organisation that will take midwifery forward in new and exciting ways. We are lucky to have her at the helm!

Posted by andrea at November 13, 2003 11:19 AM

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