Expanding eligibility under midwife professional indemnity scheme for low risk homebirth

In our submission MHM proposed the eligibility for home birth public and private to be consistent. We would prefer not to use the terms low risk or high risk as this engenders fear.  We propose an all-risk model of professional indemnity.  Surely it is preferable for all women to receive continuity of midwifery care in the community and for the place of birth to be reviewed as the pregnancy progresses in light of the individual’s health and preferences.

The provision of midwife professional indemnity scheme for home birth is best informed by the National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral (“The Guidelines”).  The Guidelines are based on best evidence, providing guidance on best practice and therefore inform professional indemnity. The Guidelines have been a pivotal and essential resource for guiding clinical midwifery care. The Guidelines are applicable to all health care practitioners, across all contexts who will, or are likely to, provide care to women during the childbearing years. The Guidelines foster a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to the provision of maternity care across Australia. They reflect the dedication and commitment of all Australian maternity care providers to achieving respectful, collaborative and woman-centred maternity practice. More importantly, they are evidence of the pivotal role that midwives play in the provision of safe, humanised, high quality, evidence-based care.   The use of The Guidelines provides an all-risk model for expanding eligibility under midwife professional indemnity scheme homebirth.