Last month I had the pleasure of meeting one of my newest constituents, two week old Benjamin Russell, and his mother Anna, who decided to home birth Benjamin, her third baby, after two previous private hospital births.
Had her baby been due this time next year, Mrs Russell would not have that choice, because, as things currently stand, as of July next year home birth with a midwife will be outlawed.
From July 2010 it will be illegal for women to birth at home with a registered midwife in attendance. New national registration laws for health professionals, due to be implemented in July 2010, will require professional indemnity insurance as a condition of registration.
Without it, independent midwives attending homebirths after July 2010 will face large financial penalties.
In June, following a visit to my electorate office by Mrs Russell, midwife Jane Palmer and other concerned constituents, I addressed Parliament regarding my concern about women not being able to birth at home with an independent midwife.
Private maternity could be made more supportive and much cheaper if private midwifery were enabled and recognised. It is important that mothers are able to choose an appropriate model of care in consultation with healthcare professionals based on their individual needs.
It is important that the Rudd Government now acts swiftly to clarify the situation and provide certainty for mothers and health professionals on this very important issue. There is limited time for the Government to act with the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme due to be implemented next year.
The Coalition certainly support the choice of childbirth options for women, and I would like to hear what you think about it, please email me at alex.hawke.mp@aph.gov.au |
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