Midwives in Victoria will now have the ability to prescribe more medication for maternity patients across the state.
Victoria Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced a major change to the scope of medication midwives can prescribe, effective from today.
The Ministerial Approval across the state will now allow endorsed midwives with three years of clinical practice to prescribe pain relief, anaesthetics and abortion medication for patients.
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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, which include over-the-counter medicines, local anesthetics, antibiotics and strong analgesics.
The previous list of medications was introduced by the former Liberal National Government in 2012.
Thomas said it was an important change that recogised the hard work and skills of the midwifery workforce in Victoria.
She said it was important particularly for regional Victorians who need to travel far for things like abortion care.
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“In making these changes, endorsed midwives are able to prescribe the drugs that are needed for medical abortion,” she said.
“It expands the choices available for women in regional Victoria who struggle to access timely abortion care.”
Nicole Allen, Maternity Services Officer at Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said the change would allow midwives to prescribe pain medication during labour, antibiotics for infections and breastfeeding medications.
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