YOUR COLLEGE
college AGM updates
information on Covid-19 vaccination during
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
The following statements were ratified at
pregnancy, which is available in the Covid-19
International Covenant on Civil and Political
section of the College website.
Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of
the recent AGM and will be available on the College website in due course: • Consensus Statement: Climate change, midwifery and environmental sustainability • Position Statement: Covid vaccination for midwives
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
MINISTRY OF HEALTH MATERNITY GUIDELINES UPDATES The following guidelines have now been through College membership consultation and will be finalised and published in due course:
The fee proposal which members were consulted on was also ratified, with the new member fee structure being implemented from 1 February 2022.
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• National Consensus Guideline for Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage | Aratohu Tūtohu ā-Motu mō te Tumahu Ikura Whakawhānau Pēpi • Guidelines for Consultation with Obstetric
COVID-19
and Related Medical Services (Referral
College advisors have continued to receive
Guidelines) | Aratohu Kimi Āwhina ki Te
a large volume of correspondence and calls from midwives (employed and self-employed) and members of the public about Covid-19,
Ratonga Whakawhānau Pēpi, Ratonga Rata (Ngā Aratohu Tuku Atu) • Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertension
including risk screening, concerns about
and Pre-eclampsia in Pregnancy in
contacts and places of interest, vaccination and
Aotearoa New Zealand: A clinical practice
other issues. We have been working closely
guideline (te reo Māori title yet to be
with midwife members, DHB midwifery leaders,
confirmed)
and the Ministry of Health to ensure midwives’ experiences and concerns are heard. The College has also worked with the Immunisation Advisory Centre to produce video and webinar
We are grateful once again for the time and expertise members have contributed throughout the feedback processes for each guideline and wish to reassure members that the College submission was fully informed by the feedback received.
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college supports baby bridge initiative In October, the College was approached by a group called the Baby Bridge Initiative to advocate for pregnant women and partners of pregnant people to be included in the emergency MIQ allocation criteria. The College wrote a letter of support for this initiative, citing the importance of antenatal care and family support during pregnancy and birth, along with relevant articles from the
10 | AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND MIDWIFE
(CEDAW), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Baby Bridge Initiative has now been successful in gaining MIQ places for a number of people, however there are still many more pregnant (or partners of pregnant) citizens and residents of Aotearoa who are still unable to return due to the current settings. The College also escalated concerns about midwives who were stuck overseas and unable to secure an MIQ place. The announcement of 300 MIQ places per month for health workers is welcome news.
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THE MATERNITY SERVICES CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY The Ministry has regularly conducted surveys to measure and monitor women’s satisfaction with primary maternity services since 1999. The sixth assessment of consumer satisfaction with maternity services is planned and will go live in 2022. In addition to the usual quantitative survey, there will be a set of qualitative focusgroup work to gather more in-depth detail from Māori, Pasifika, disabled women, bereaved women/parents and rainbow whānau. Lesley Dixon is the College representative on the Expert Advisory Group; her role will involve providing advice and guidance.
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NEWBORN PULSE OXIMETRY SCREENING GUIDELINE Public consultation on the draft guidelines to support newborn pulse oximetry screening to detect congenital heart defects was completed in May 2021. Submissions have now been reviewed, with the guideline, algorithm and information sheets currently being updated to ensure consistency and clarity.
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