New research could reduce caesarean rates
Date Updated:
Victoria’s first motorcycle paramedics will be rolled out before the year is out, as part of a $2.8 million state government commitment.
The Baillieu government has pledged six motorcycle paramedics for rapid response to emergencies, which will operate during peak traffic and during major events and festivals, within Melbourne’s inner metro area.
Motorcycle paramedic units, renowned for their ability to negotiate heavy traffic and their resulting rapid response to emergencies in city areas, have been operating in New South Wales since 1983, in the United Kingdom since 1991, the Netherlands since 1997 and Hong Kong since 1982.
The unit, which will carry life-saving drugs and equipment including defibrillators, will respond to emergencies ranging from cardiac arrests to pedestrians hit by vehicles, domestic accidents and alcohol-related incidents.
The state’s ambulance union has criticised the move as a waste of funds, which could instead be spent on securing more ambulances and much-needed paramedics for the under-resourced sector.
Ambulance Employees Australia Victoria general secretary Steve McGhie said the plan also posed serious occupational health and safety concerns, from the security of the bike to that of the drugs and equipment.
The move to put motorcycle paramedics on Melbourne city streets comes as the state’s ambulance service buckles under increased pressure, resulting in more “ramping” cases and union reports the situation is taking a toll on over-worked paramedics.
Motorcycle paramedics will receive additional safety and driver training. The government will trial the unit for a three year period before reviewing its effectiveness.
Health Minister David Davis said while the motorcycles were not designed for transporting patients, they provided a quick and convenient way for MICA paramedics to respond to cases and provide clinical back-up to colleagues.
“These paramedics will often be the first response to accidents and incidents, as theA new study will investigate whether sterile water injections can decrease caesarean section rates and improve outcomes for women and their babies.
The technique, which targets back pain, could have major ramifications for Australian birthing practices, with caesarean rates now sitting at around 30 per cent.
Australian Catholic University researchers will conduct the double-blind collaborative study across four hospitals over three years, including 1846 women.
Under the study, half of the women will receive the sterile water and the other half will be given a placebo of saline.
ACU researcher, PhD student and Brisbane Mater Hospital midwife Nigel Lee said sterile water injections could be an innovative and simple technique to increase the normal birth rate.
“It’s a very simple procedure. It can be performed by midwives without being overseen by doctors and could be performed in any maternity care setting,” he said.
“There are indications the sterile water injections used to ease back pain during labour may also decrease the rate of caesarean sections.
“Caesarean section can cause increased risk of infection, increased recovery time and other serious complications. There are many benefits to encouraging a normal birth.”
Mr Lee said sterile water injections were first used in medicine at the end of the 19th century and it was a more common practice today in European countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
“It’s relatively unheard of here. It’s not a procedure used very commonly in Australia,” he said.
Mr Lee said about eight research trials in the past 20 years have been carried out into the effects of sterile water injections during labour but this study would be the largest of its kind.
“There was one small study done in Victoria in about 2005 and it involved about 60 women and we have just finished a large trial involving 300 women,” he said.
ACU and Mater Medical Research Institute Chair of Midwifery Professor Sue Kildea said it was an exciting area of research.
“This large study has been called for internationally and will attract much interest,” she said.
The National Health and Medical Research Council has awarded ACU a research grant of $456,760 for the study along with $660,886 to develop an Australian Regional Birthing Index. will be able to dodge through congested traffic in inner-city areas,” he said.
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