QUEENSLAND midwives are calling for urgent detail regarding how $42 million in state budget maternity funding will be allocated.
Peak midwifery bodies the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) and the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU), along with largest employer of endorsed midwives My Midwives, today called on Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to commit to funding midwives and midwife led models of care.
The joint call follows Minister Fentiman’s recent announcement of maternity funds to train 20 GPs in obstetrics medicine and other medical training initiatives.
The organisations, which represent Queensland midwives, said while the recent announcement was welcome, additional maternity funding announcements must include and support midwives and midwife led models of care such as Midwifery Group Practice (MGP).
Failure to appropriately fund, support and expand Queensland midwives and midwife led models of care will leave Queensland women and babies without access to quality care – particularly in rural and regional communities.
Queensland is experiencing a health crisis, with many women struggling to access quality, maternity services where they live.
Australian College of Midwives Chief Midwife Alison Weatherstone said it was imperative the state government allocated appropriate funding to support midwives, midwife led models of care and Queensland mothers and babies.
“Today we call on Minister Fentiman to commit funding to support and expand Queensland Midwifery Group Practice, public funding for homebirth services, safe and sustainable workloads for midwives as well as midwifery leadership,” Ms Weatherstone said.
“Queensland women aren’t currently able to access maternity care close to home. They deserve choice, continuity of care and services where they live.”
My Midwives Managing Director Liz Wilkes said midwives were well placed to assist women in regional and remote areas where staff retention and recruitment were major issues.
“When we have Midwifery Group Practice and midwives and endorsed midwives available to work to the full scope of their practice, the recruitment issues becomes far less problematic,” Ms Wilkes said.
“Midwives are extremely willing to work in these models of care and that’s a win for women in rural and regional areas where staff shortages and recruitment can be a major issue.
“The state government must appropriately fund these services if Queensland women and babies are to receive quality care where and when its needed.”
Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Secretary Kate Veach said in the face of ever-increasing demand for care, Queensland midwives were experiencing unsafe workloads state-wide. She said funding was required now to keep mothers, babies and midwives safe.
“In addition to funding to support and expand Midwife Group Practice and grow midwife numbers, the state government must fund the introduction of ratios in inpatient maternity units to end widespread and unsafe workloads state-wide,” Ms Veach said.
“Single midwives are being left to care for up to 18 mothers and babies at a time and they’re burning out as a result. Ratios will ensure Queensland mothers and babies are safe and skilled midwives can remain in the profession they love.
“The system is in crisis and there is a significant opportunity for Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to make a difference for Queensland’s mothers and babies with proper health funding for all who provide maternity care.”
Funding must also be allocated for midwifery leadership. Midwives must have midwifery leadership at all levels, including executive, and must maintain contemporary midwifery practice and knowledge.
Summary of funding asks:
• Midwifery Group Practice: Support and expansion of midwife led MGPs to provide continuity of care, with midwives working with mothers and babies during pregnancy, birth and post birth. They also enable women, particularly those in rural and remote areas, to give birth where and when they want to. MGPS can operate without an obstetrician, while ensuring one is available if required. Evidence shows continuity of care models such as MGP result in 24% reduction of pre-term births and a 16% reduction in pregnancy and neonatal loss, improves perinatal mental health and is more cost effective to Government than standard care Continuity of carer | Clinical Excellence Queensland(health.qld.gov.au)
• Ratios: Introduction of midwifery ratios in Queensland Health facilities to ensure safe levels of mothers and babies are allocated to a single midwife in Queensland Health (QH) facilities
• Home birth: Publicly funded home birth services to allow skilled midwives to provide maternity services for women where and when they are required – particularly in rural and remote areas. Queensland remains one of the last states to introduce this publicly funded option
• Midwifery leadership: Midwives must have midwifery leadership at all levels, including executive, and must maintain contemporary midwifery practice and knowledge. This supports long-term workforce sustainability, multi-disciplinary co-ordination and patient safety.
There were 62,740 births in Queensland in 2022, and each woman had the support of a midwife. Midwifery must be prioritised to ensure sustainable maternity services throughout Queensland into the future.