The Association for Improvement in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMSI) are extremely concerned with the current climate surrounding the option of home birth for women in Ireland. Insurance for Independent Midwives is currently due to be suspended after March 31, 2008. This will have a crushing impact on women who choose to give birth at home, the livelihood of hardworking Independent Midwives, and will have a devastating effect on Ireland’s increasingly over-crowded and understaffed maternity hospitals.
AIMSI have included as reference the link to our petition to reinstate insurance for Independent Midwives when this issue first became apparent in 2007. The AIMSI petition received fantastic support, from both a national and international audience, and in July 07 sent the petition to the HSE and INO. The INO quickly responded to inform us that they had decided to extend the insurance cover until March 31st, 2008 and that they were actively in talks with the State Claims Agency for the purpose of having them assume the provision of the insurance after March 08… however, as the deadline approaches, here we are.
Home Birth is a safe and cost effective birth choice for women in Ireland. AIMSI urge you to consider the current circumstances and keep home birth a viable option for all women in Ireland.
Please sign the following petition if you have not already done so. AIMSI will be re-submitting this document in days to come and during upcoming meetings.
Kind Regards,
Jene Kelly
AIMS Ireland
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/iris … index.html