 |
 |
FYI Professor Jane Sandall King's College London NIHR Senior Investigator Mobile 07713743150 PA Fiona 02071883639 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Susan Crowther <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date: 30 August 2015 23:27:13 BST To: <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject: NZ midwives file court action against ministry of health Reply-To: The normal birth research list <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> HI all This may interest some of you on the networks working in NZ or globally in health/maternity workforce policy. The New Zealand College of Midwives are filing a court action against the ministry of health about unfairness of pay for midwives. The action is taken on the grounds that this is a gender issue. Midwifery is mainly women’s occupation and hence gender discrimination in terms of pay. As midwifery is largely a women’s occupation their work is often lass valued than male dominated occupations leading to pay disparities. How midwives are remunerated has long term effects on how quality of care can be provided and how birth can be kept normal. Continuity of care is central to NZ midwifery yet there is inequality in pay when matched against the enormous responsibility, accountability and knowledge/skill required. For continuity of care caseload midwives to continue they need to be valued and paid appropriately. Continuity of care and optimal childbirth outcomes have been linked consistently in the literature; it is vital that this model of care is kept sustainable. Here is some recent press about this action. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/71536143/midwives-drop-bombshell-with-court-action-over-pay-discrimination.html http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=109430 Kind regards to all Susan Dr Susan Crowther “Those finding themselves at birth need to pause and allow the profundity of its meaning to surface and inspire their actions” Senior Lecturer midwifery | School of Clinical Sciences | Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences AUT North Campus | Rm AB206 | Private Bag 92006 | Auckland 1020 | New Zealand |•: 09 921 9999 - ext. 7558 | Mob: 021 229 4858 Blog: http://drsusancrowther.wordpress.com<http://drsusancrowther.wordpress.com/> Twitter: http://twitter.com/SusanCrowtherMW [cid:image001.png@01D0E3D7.9985F030]