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Midwives raise the options for childbirth

Abstract:

The NZCOM Auckland Region notes the comments of Dr. Philip Rushmer and his colleagues as identified by their article in the NZ Herald Monday 19 July 1993. In 1990 the Nurses' Amendment Act again restored independence of practice to midwives. The competitive environment that the change to the Nurses' Act has caused is something that our colleagues in general practice have not been trained to cope with, and, indeed, have not experienced before. No doubt this contributes to their feelings of doubts about their worth and low prestige. Their right to be the primary care givers for well women and babies during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period had been protected until these changes occurred. The changes to the Nurses' Act allowed a competitor into the area of pregnancy and childbirth and, as with any monopoly, this is a heavy blow. It is feasible to suggest that, with ongoing deregulation of industry including healthe services, further competitors in other areas of health may also appear on the scene.

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1990 Nurses' Amendment Act, maternity care payments, maternity care provided by GPs, schedule of fees