Midwives will be able to approve medication for commonly experienced pregnancy and labour conditions, the state government has announced,
The government has repealed an outdated existing list which limited prescribing by authorised midwives to a select group of medicines. In its place is a ministerial approval which enables authorised midwives to prescribe within the full scope of their practice.
This change will ensure women can get the care they need sooner and reduce the need to visit their GPs to get a prescription for conditions commonly experienced during pregnancy and labour, such as heartburn, acid reflux, bacterial vaginosis, as well as pain relief, the government said.
The government said the reform will also improve access to medical abortion by removing barriers to prescribing – making it safer and easier for women to access abortion services closer to home.
Authorised midwives must have at least three years of experience in full-time clinical practice and have undertaken graduate education and training to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4, and 8 medicines – such as over-the-counter medicines, local anesthetics, antibiotics and strong analgesics.
The changes follow consultation with Safer Care Victoria, the Australian Nursing Midwifery Federation, the Australian College of Midwives and Australian College of Nursing, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said midwives play a critical role in Victoria’s health system, caring for women and their babies through pregnancy and labour.
“These changes recognise the skill and professionalism of our authorised midwives,” she said.
“These reforms are all about making it easier and safer for women to get the care they need – including access to medical abortion.”
