Note: This article was originally posted in our December 2017 newsletter, and has not been updated.
Dear midwives, stakeholders, and members of the public,
In September 2017, I received a letter from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. In the letter, Minister Eric Hoskins writes about the Ministry’s Patients First Action Plan, and states their objective to increase access to the right care, at the right time.
In the interest of providing the right care at the right time, the Ministry has said they plan to prioritize the consideration of midwives’ increased access to laboratory tests and the expansion of scope of practice to include prescribing drugs and controlled substances. I firmly believe these changes are in the public interest, and that this expansion will improve access to quality care in Ontario, benefiting midwifery clients.
You can read the letter from the Minister here, and read my response to the Minister here.
The College has been proactive and has already devoted time and resources to these two initiatives, in accordance with our strategic priority to modernize legislation and regulations. Proposed changes to the Laboratories Regulation under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act were approved by the College’s Council in October, and a discussion regarding the College’s Designated Drugs Regulation also took place at that meeting.
In his letter, Minister Eric Hoskins asks the College of Midwives of Ontario for our cooperation in working with the Ministry to move forward on these items, which would necessitate the creation of College and government regulations. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the Ministry in the interest of midwifery clients and the public, and will continue to keep you updated on these new initiatives.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Haidon RM
Council President
College of Midwives of Ontario