Midwives await local hospital privileges

They aren't blaming anyone for the delay, but local midwives have been left wondering why Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC) remains one of only a handful of hospitals in Ontario that have not granted privileges for their profession.

And it's nearly a year since Orangeville-based Midwives of Headwater Hills (MHH) applied for the privileges.

"We are brand new here," said Stephanie McDonald, who practises out of MHH's Broadway clinic along with midwife partner Linda Stahl,

but we applied in January and as of yet, we don't have them. We're not really clear about the reasons."

They are loathe to complain about the lack of privileges, except to point to the inconveniences foisted on their clients.

But Melissa Nowell, a Dufferin mother and also a

doula," was happy to speak about the "frustrations and added stress" of not having midwifery access to the nearest hospital. (A doula is defined by Wikipedia as "an assistant who provides various forms of nonmedical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in the childbirth process. Based on a particular doula's training and background, the doula may offer support during prenatal care, during childbirth and/or during the postpartum period.")

Ms. Nowell, who lives 12 minutes from HHCC, had to have hospital care for the birth of her child last January. As she was under the care of a midwife, she was forced to choose between Collingwood's General and Marine Hospital, 55 minutes away, and Alliston's Stephenson Memorial, 30 minutes distant.

She had spoken to HHCC at some point. There, she said, one doctor told her there would never be midwives at the Orangeville hospital. She declined to name the doctor.

At the hospital this week, neither Liz Ruegg, the director of patient services who has been working with local midwives on the issue, nor President/CEO Cholly Boland could be reached for comment.

Midwifery today has come a long way from what one might view in an occasional old movie where a neighbourhood woman calls out for hot water and towels.

Today, the midwife is a trained professional, qualified by a four-year Bachelor course at one of three universities - Ryerson, McMaster and Laurentian - and registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO).

The profession is regulated and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and midwifery services are covered by OHIP.

Midwifery care is available to women throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth, and the first six weeks after birth. Midwives spend time developing relationships with women and are available 24 hours day, seven days a week.

Women are active decisionmakers in the care they receive; midwives give information to help women make informed decisions.

"Midwifery clients may choose to give birth at home or in hospital. Midwives maintain hospital privileges at many Ontario hospitals and work collaboratively with other health care practitioners," reads the midwifery Website, but hospital boards remain free to choose to whom they wish to grant privileges.

Ms. McDonald and Ms. Stahl said both the Alliston and Georgetown hospitals have granted privileges to midwives.

How diligently are midwives governed by the College? "The CMO was established with the proclamation of the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Midwifery Act on December 31, 1993 to govern midwifery in the interest of public safety by: regulating the practice of the profession and governing members according to legislation, regulations, and by-laws; setting standards of qualification for persons to be issued certificates of registration; developing, establishing, and maintaining standards of professional ethics for the members; and responding to complaints from the public regarding midwifery practice," reads the CMO Website.