Page 2222 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 June 2005
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
have better control over who practises in the ACT is okay by me, especially in light of recent revelations in Queensland.
Firstly, I wish to address the proposal to allow the establishment of midwifery as a separate heath profession to nursing. This relates to recommendation 15 of the health committee’s report into maternity services in the ACT, A pregnant pause. Evidence shows that encouraging women to deliver their child through the natural or unassisted birthing process will not only deliver better health outcomes for mothers and babies but will also reduce costs to the health system.
This bill, by recognising and enhancing the role of midwives, will increase the ability for birthing women to choose options that will enhance their potential to have an unassisted birth. This proposal is an important step in redefining our birthing culture by recognising the natural birthing process which healthy women may prefer and accepting that women should be able to choose to seek medical intervention only as a method of last resort.
However, although I believe we should encourage women to consider the natural birthing process, women should be the ones to direct their care. They have a smorgasbord of birthing choices—in a birth centre or in a hospital; in partnership with practitioners of their choosing, including independent midwives, general practitioners and obstetricians.
I am concerned about the high rate of caesareans that can make it difficult for women to have subsequent unassisted births. Hence, it is important that women are fully informed and have the power to choose their preferred birthing method, recognising that prompt and appropriate medical backup should be available in case of complications. Many changes are needed to support this important culture shift. However, the recognition of midwives as independent practitioners in their own right is a step in the right direction.
Secondly, I wish to address the proposal to make permanent items currently included in the Health Professionals Amendment Regulation (No 1) 2004. I am please to see that the ACT government is acting on requests of the Medical Board of the ACT as a result of legal advice. This demonstrates good practice for legislative development.
The Greens support greater transparency and accountability requirements for the boards of health professionals. This bill assists in achieving this goal by providing greater flexibility in accessing the provisions of profession specific schedules; better detailing of how a health professional registration may be cancelled or suspended; and setting out the actions which the Health Professions Broad may take on a report, complaint or application for review. The Greens supported the Health Professionals Amendment Regulation (No 1) 2004, and once again we support its ideas through the bill and the amendments that are before us today.
Finally, I am supportive of the move to allow veterinary surgeons to be included under the Health Professionals Act 2004, as pets are important parts of people’s lives, and the health care provided to animals should also be accountable to standards of service.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (11.14), in reply: Mr Speaker, I thank members for their support of this bill today. As members who have participated in the debate have outlined, this bill makes a number of important
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .