Bill 107 - An Act Respecting Midwifery - was passed in November of 2006. The purpose of this Act is to protect the public by regulating the profession of midwifery in Nova Scotia.
A regulatory council will be created with statutory authority to establish requirements for professional designation as well as to endorse standards of practice and competence. To practise as a member of a regulated profession, an applicant must meet the requirements of the Council which grants a license to practise.
Once the Act is proclaimed and in effect, licensed midwives may work in private practice or in an arrangement with health care agencies or other providers. Current provincial planning is focused on midwives as employees of district health authorities or the IWK.
The Midwifery Implementation Initiative (MII) is overseeing the introduction of midwifery into the Nova Scotia health care system. Planning, led by the Department of Health, is well underway with participation of the Association of N.S. Midwives, College of Physicians and Surgeons of N.S., Doctors Nova Scotia, College of Registered Nurses of N.S., Midwifery Coalition of N.S., District Health Authorities, and the Reproductive Care Program of N.S.
Key planning activities are depicted on the charts (PDF: 140k) . A check mark identifies those activities which have been completed.
The Midwifery Implementation Initiative is advising an incremental introduction of midwives. Initially, through the establishment of model sites, provincially funded midwives will work within integrated primary maternity care teams in a limited number of settings representing population and geographic diversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a midwife?
Registered midwives in Canada are health professionals who provide primary maternity care through pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period, including care of the newborn infant. As primary care providers, midwives may be the first point of entry to maternity services, and are fully responsible for clinical decisions and the management of care within their scope of practice.
Midwives licensed to practise in Canada have the necessary competencies and qualifications to provide the complete course of low-risk prenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, including physical examinations, screening and diagnostic tests, the prescription of certain medications and the conduct of vaginal deliveries.
The midwife’s scope of practice includes assessment and identification of risks or abnormal conditions, recommending or initiating treatment, and consulting with or referring care to medical specialists and other care providers in a timely and appropriate manner.
How are midwives educated?
Midwifery education in Canada is a four-year baccalaureate (health sciences) program, currently offered at six universities across Canada: 1 British Columbia, 1 in Manitoba, 3 in Ontario and 1 in Quebec.
You’ll find more information about midwifery education and curriculum through these links:
- Midwifery schools link to Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortuim: www.cmrc-ccosf.ca
All registered midwives in Canada, including those who were educated internationally, have undergone rigorous assessments to ensure that they meet the requirements and professional standards to deliver safe, competent, high quality care in the Canadian health system. In Nova Scotia, the registration process and requirements will be consistent with those in other Canadian provinces.
How do midwives work with other health professionals?
Midwives work collaboratively in multidisciplinary primary maternity care teams with other practitioners including, family physicians, obstetricians, pediatricians, obstetrical, neonatal and public health nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, emergency medical personnel and other health and social service providers.
Midwives coordinate or share appropriate aspects of care with other providers in community-based services, and work in hospitals as part of integrated obstetrical teams.
Midwives apply for privileges to admit and care for patients in hospitals in the same way that physicians do.
The integration of midwives in multidisciplinary teams contributes to the effective management of health human resources by ensuring that the most appropriate care is provided by the most appropriate care provider.
Click here to read “Want to know more about midwives?,” a booklet produced by the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health.
How is midwifery being implemented in Nova Scotia?
Because there are relatively few midwives in the province, and because time is needed to work with the DHAs to develop policies and practices that welcome and include midwives as an integral part of the health care team, the MII has opted to introduce publically funded midwifery gradually using model sites in three District Health Authorities/IWK. These sites will represent urban, rural/remote and regional populations.
How can I access a midwife?
Introducing a new health profession takes time. Because there are relatively few midwives in Nova Scotia, it will take a while before there are midwives working in all parts of the province. Access to midwifery services will increase over time.
The Midwifery Regulatory Council (MRC) will be able to inform the public about the location of all midwives working in the province. The MRC will begin working when the Midwifery Act comes into effect.