Landmark legislation: Qld to give easier access to abortion pill
Queensland will become one of the first states to count babies as an individual patient and to allow nurses or midwives to dispense a medical abortion drug, under new proposed laws.
QLD Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Queensland nurses and midwives will be allowed to dispense a medical abortion drug under proposed laws introduced by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.
The landmark legislative package will also include midwife to patient ratios which for the first time will count babies. Under the plan midwives would care for no more than six patients — babies inclusive — at a time.
Organisations including the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union have been calling for ratio for a long time.
“Our midwives work incredibly hard to deliver compassionate and comprehensive care to mothers and their babies that’s why we’re implementing minimum midwife to patient ratios,” Ms Fentiman said.
QNMU Secretary Kate Veach said the introduction of midwifery ratios legislation would mandate how many mothers and babies could safely be allocated to a single Queensland Health midwife.
Ms Veach said under existing federal law, not all Queensland babies were counted as additional patients alongside their mother or included in midwives’ workloads. This also occurs in all other states and territories.
The QNMU understands that under the new ratios, Queensland will become the only Australian state or territory that counts and includes both mothers and babies in midwifery ratios – making QH post-natal maternity wards the safest in the country. The ratios will apply when babies are in the same room as their parent.
“Today’s announced of legislation containing midwifery ratios of one midwife to three women and three babies, or a total of six individuals, on Queensland Health post-natal maternity wards is a huge win for Queensland,” Ms Veach said.
“Ensuring each baby is counted as an additional patient alongside the mother is also an Australian first. Once this legislation is passed, Queensland Health will lead the way in the provision of safe, public post-natal maternity care in Australia.
“The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union and our members have long campaigned for safe midwifery ratios to keep mothers, babies and midwives safe. Today is a great day for Queensland.”
MS-2 Step — the only available medical abortion pill in Australia — can be prescribed for a termination up to 63 days of gestation.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration in July ruled nurses, midwives and pharmacists, alongside all doctors – not just those which had completed special training – would be allowed to prescribe the abortion pill, MS-2 Step.
Lifting the restrictions on the pill mean women, particularly in regional and remote Queensland, will have better access to MS-2 Step — including with immediate effect from general practitioners.
But in order for nurses, midwives, and pharmacists to prescribe the drug legislative changes are needed.
“Allowing nurses and midwives to administer medical termination drugs will mean greater access and more choice for women, particularly where access to surgical termination is unavailable,” Ms Fentiman said.
A recent QNMU Count the Babies audit of a number of QH inpatient maternity wards found individual midwives were routinely being allocated up 20 women and babies, or a total of up to 20 individuals, at a time. This is unsafe.
QNMU member and midwife Ashleigh Sullivan said QH midwives continue to work incredibly hard in often extreme circumstances to keep those in their care safe.
“I would like to thank Minister Fentiman for listening to and acting on the concerns of Queenslanders and midwives,” Ms Sullivan said.
“At the moment midwives are overloaded with many experiencing burn out and being forced to leave the public system and the jobs they love.
“As the QNMU’s Count the Babies audit found, it’s not uncommon for midwives to look after up to ten mothers and ten babies, or up to 20 human beings, at one time.
“The announcement of midwifery ratios will ensure Queensland Health midwives feel valued, supported and heard. It will also enable midwives to provide Queensland women and babies they level of care they need and deserve.
“Having more time and being enabled to provide the best quality care will improve outcomes for babies, mothers and the Queensland community. It will also reduce readmissions.
“These nation-leading ratios will also attract skilled midwives to Queensland.”
Ms Veach acknowledged additional QH midwives would be required to meet the ratios and again called for a state workforce plan and funding to address existing and forecast staff shortfalls.
The QNMU is awaiting further detail from the State Government regarding when midwifery ratios will be rolled out.
In 2016, Queensland became the fourth government in the world to introduce nurse-to-patient ratios in prescribed Queensland Health wards. This roll out continues.
In the first year alone, QH ratios saved 145 lives and up to 81 million taxpayer dollars.
‘I have no doubt we will win’: Dutton’s bold declaration on election eve
With a federal election expected to be called any day now, the man who wants to be Australia’s next prime minister tells Frances Whiting in an exclusive interview the ‘underdog’ LNP will win.
Displaced Qld kids choosing life on the streets over state care
Children under the care of the state are walking out of residential care in favour of living on the streets as the department struggles to cope with a record surge in placements.