National Health (Collaborative arrangements for midwives) Determination 2010

The day has arrived we know what collaborative arrangements are: here is the document for you to read; I am still absorbing all the information: on the first read I was upset....however after digesting it there is room to move and I am more positive about the whole agreement. It is a difficult paper to read and understand and you have to read it several times to find the areas which we can use to our advantage.....so have a read and then lets discuss our options...click the link

National Health (Collaborative
arrangements for midwives) Determination
20101

4 Specified medical practitioners
For the definition of authorised midwife in subsection 84 (1) of the Act, the
following kinds of medical practitioner are specified:
(a) an obstetrician;
(b) a medical practitioner who provides obstetric services;
(c) a medical practitioner employed or engaged by a hospital authority and
authorised by the hospital authority to participate in a collaborative
arrangement.

5 Collaborative arrangements — general
(1) For the definition of authorised midwife in subsection 84 (1) of the Act,
each of the following is a kind of collaborative arrangement for an eligible
midwife:

(a) the midwife is employed or engaged by 1 or more obstetric specified
medical practitioners, or by an entity that employs or engages 1 or
more obstetric specified medical practitioners;
(b) a patient is referred, in writing, to the midwife for midwifery treatment
by a specified medical practitioner;
(c) an agreement mentioned in section 6 for the midwife;
(d) an arrangement mentioned in section 7 for the midwife.
(2) For subsection (1), the arrangement must provide for:
(a) consultation between the midwife and an obstetric specified medical
practitioner; and
(b) referral of a patient to a specified medical practitioner; and
(c) transfer of a patient’s care to an obstetric specified medical
practitioner.

(3) A collaborative arrangement, other than an arrangement mentioned in
section 7, may apply to more than 1 patient.

(4) However, an acknowledgement mentioned in paragraph 7 (1) (c) may apply
for more than 1 patient.

6 Agreement between eligible midwife and 1 or more specified
medical practitioners
(1) An agreement may be made between:
(a) an eligible midwife; and
(b) 1 or more specified medical practitioners.
(2) The agreement must be in writing and signed by the eligible midwife and
the other parties mentioned in paragraph (1) (b).

7 Arrangement — midwife’s written records
(1) An eligible midwife must record the following for a patient in the midwife’s
written records:
(a) the name of at least 1 specified medical practitioner who is, or will be,
collaborating with the midwife in the patient’s care (a named medical
practitioner);
(b) that the midwife has told the patient that the midwife will be providing
midwifery services to the patient in collaboration with 1 or more
specified medical practitioners in accordance with this section;
(c) acknowledgement by a named medical practitioner that the practitioner
will be collaborating in the patient’s care;
(d) plans for the circumstances in which the midwife will do any of the
following:
(i) consult with an obstetric specified medical practitioner;
(ii) refer the patient to a specified medical practitioner;
(iii) transfer the patient’s care to an obstetric specified medical
practitioner.
(2) The midwife must also record the following in the midwife’s written
records:
(a) any consultation or other communication between the midwife and an
obstetric specified medical practitioner about the patient’s care;
(b) any referral of the patient by the midwife to a specified medical
practitioner;
(c) any transfer by the midwife of the patient’s care to an obstetric
specified medical practitioner;
(d) when the midwife gives a copy of the hospital booking letter (however
described) for the patient to a named medical practitioner —
acknowledgement that the named medical practitioner has received the
copy;
(e) when the midwife gives a copy of the patient’s maternity care plan
prepared by the midwife to a named medical practitioner —
acknowledgement that the named medical practitioner has received the
copy;
(f) if the midwife requests diagnostic imaging or pathology services for
the patient — when the midwife gives the results of the services to a
named medical practitioner;
(g) that the midwife has given a discharge summary (however described)
at the end of the midwife’s care for the patient to:
(i) a named medical practitioner; and
(ii) the patient’s usual general practitioner.

All the above information is taken from the National Health Act 1953 (click the above link for the whole document)

Please feel free to ask any questions

WA behind with National Legislation for Nurses and Midwives

Please remember to maintain your nursing and midwifery registration: WA is the only State not to have enacted the new Law: Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009: hopefully we are looking at August for National Registration watch this space........ If you are travelling interstate with the intention of working you will have to register in that State.....like wise nurses and midwives from the Eastern States will have to register here.
Check out Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website........for more information.......

the Senate Inquiry is out......

Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 and two related Bills

The recommendation is that:

1.40 The committee recommends that the Health Legislation Amendment(Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 with amendments, the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009 and the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-Off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009 be passed.
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/health_leg_midwives_nurse_practitioners_09_nov09/report/index.htmThere is a minority report by Senator Rachael Siewert, who recommends:

That the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill is amended by replacing reference to ‘collaborative arrangements’ with a requirement that eligible midwives demonstrate collaborative practice and that in the definition of a participating midwife, midwives would be required to demonstrate ‘collaborative practice’ by using standardised clinical documentation for planning and provision of care. This would record specific indications of collaborative practice, in particular consultation and referral as required, with the consent of the women for whom care is provided.

We will still have to wait for about three weeks before it is discussed due to the cue in front of us...... lets see what happens....