The National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services launched today, outlining clear strategy for making maternity care more accessible for women and communities of rural and remote Australia.
Achieving an overarching framework through collaboration from all care providers and stakeholders is key to ensuring clear messaging and clear direction for policy makers and health services who provide the services needed by women.
Midwifery led group practices are an important and straightforward way of providing evidence based care to women, additional wrap around services that a midwife can provide such as sexual and reproductive health and to ensure that midwives can work in models of care that are flexible and professionally satisfying, allowing them to work to their full scope of practice and remain in the profession long term. Midwifery led care fits the goals of the Framework and the intention of state governments who have committed funds to improving maternity care for women in rural and remote areas.
It is vital that we maintain and expand maternity services in rural areas that have seen closure of services and lack of choice of care for women.
Alison Weatherstone, Chief Midwife from the Australian College of Midwives said, “Women living in rural and remote areas want to birth close to home and feel reassured that their local birthing services provide access to high quality care and choice, as would be expected in a metropolitan area.”
“The Framework provides high level objectives but also very practical actions to make rural maternity services more accessible to women living in rural and remote Australia. It is designed to enable access to maternity care close to home, guide the redesign of services where needed and provide ways to enhance maternity workforce recruitment and retention.
“A key development in the Framework was recognising the importance of providing culturally safe and appropriate maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families, with access to expert maternity care providing continuity of care, Birthing on Country or Birthing in our Community.”
Joint Launch Statement
National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services