Additional Emergency Locum Support for COVID-19 Self-Isolation
The College together with the MMPO have been proactively working with the Ministry of Health to put together an initial community midwifery response to COVID-19. This has been focussed on providing additional support for community midwives throughout Aotearoa who are dealing with the impact of self-isolation requirements.
We have successfully negotiated an extension to the amount of locum cover midwives can access when they are required to self-isolate. Below please find details of the communication we have received from the Ministry of Health.
“The number of days for midwifery locum relief (for both rural and urban midwives) will be increased from 5 to up to 14 days. This is to cater for special circumstances where midwives need to self-isolate because of potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The 14 days locum relief will be made available on a case-by-case basis while New Zealand deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Ministry has stipulated that this locum cover will not be available to any midwives who leave for non-essential travel (eg. planned holiday), after the wider self-isolation requirements came into effect on 16 March, however they will still be required to self-isolate on their return.
Please be aware that yesterday the government’s recommendation to self-isolate was extended to anyone who returned from overseas (except Pacific Island countries) in the previous two weeks, ie. returning after 4 March, for the remaining balance of 14 days from the date of return.
Locum cover continues to be available for up to 5 days for the usual reasons, eg. sickness, bereavement, unexpected outcomes and family emergencies.
With the increased capacity and use of the locum service, we would like to hear from any midwives who may be available to provide locum cover. Please contact MMPO Locum Support on 0800 MIDWIFE (0800 643 943).
Currently the development of the COVID-19 response is fluid and fast moving, and government requirements for self-isolation are changing frequently. Keep checking the Ministry of Health website for updates: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus. We will be communicating directly with midwives and updating our websites and social media platforms as news or changes come to hand: College website, social media: College facebook, MMPO facebook, MMPO Locum Support.
To organise locum cover
- If you clearly fit within the self-isolation criteria, phone the MMPO Locum Support directly: 0800 MIDWIFE
- If you do not clearly fit within the self-isolation criteria but think you might need to self-isolate, contact Healthline first (0800 358 5453), then contact MMPO Locum Support to discuss according to the Healthline recommendation.
- Continue to contact MMPO Locum Support for locum cover for the usual reasons.