Legislation to make it illegal for unregistered practitioners to provide midwifery services in South Australia is being prepared by SA Health.

Health Minister John Hill said the Proposal to Protect Midwifery Practice in South Australia, which is now out for public consultation, will help to ensure the safety of mothers and their babies.

“We want to develop legislation which would make it an offence for anyone to engage in the practice of midwifery without being a registered midwife or medical practitioner.

“This will help to protect the public from the risk of harm that can arise from unregistered or unlicensed practitioners providing midwifery services.

“By registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, midwives continually demonstrate they have the appropriate training, knowledge and skills to manage each woman’s circumstances appropriately.

“Women should have choices when it comes to the birth of their child, including the option to have their baby at home if it’s safe for them and the baby to do so.

“Homebirth programs are available through all three of Adelaide’s metropolitan maternity hospitals with a team of 12 homebirth accredited midwives at the WCH alone.

“What is so important is that women are fully informed of all the birthing options available to them, and confident that the practitioner caring for them is appropriately trained and qualified.”

The drafting of this legislation is one of eight recommendations directed to the Minister for Health and CE of SA Health in the Coroner’s inquest into the death of three newborn babies in South Australia.

SA Health has progressed, completed or resolved each of the eight recommendations, including introducing the Health and Community Services Complaints Amendment Act 2011.

The Act will be brought into operation early in 2013 and will provide the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner with increased powers to deal with unregistered health practitioners.

These powers include placing specific conditions on unregistered practitioners or prohibiting them from practising for a specified or indefinite period.

A copy of the Proposal to Protect Midwifery Practice in South Australia is available from www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/protectingmidwifery.

Consultation closes on 1 March 2013