00:02Life is a festival of firsts for little baby Frankie Fox.
00:07But it wasn't the only first announced in the maternity ward today.
00:11Today we start a 12 month trial of endorsed midwives working within our public maternity system.
00:19These six midwives will be able to prescribe medications,
00:23they'll be able to order and interpret tests,
00:25they'll also be able to admit a patient into hospital.
00:28Rachel Hetney put her hand up straight away.
00:33She hopes it will be labour saving,
00:35reducing the running around for different maternity care appointments.
00:39It may be early pregnancy, nausea,
00:43they may need to have some pathology done,
00:46they may need a diagnostic, an ultrasound of some kind.
00:51It's not designed to replace obstetrics care, but to streamline it.
00:55It just means that we can consult and collaborate with our obstetric colleagues and our GPs,
01:01but provide the right care at the right time within our scope.
01:04The Royal Australian College of GPs says the best approach is when midwives and GPs are working together.
01:11It will be evaluated across the year with a chance to expand the trial across Canberra Health Services.
01:18I think it will be life changing for women.
01:19Baby steps towards a broader change.
01:22Baby move the edge.
01:24Baby step will definitely be there before and then.
01:25You'll be waiting for them to move along and spend a little spin on your hands.
01:25Ch spare life to play over.
01:25Sorry, I came from the world to the world.
