❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Community Midwifery Program, its funding, limitations, and potential expansion in Western Australia, particularly in light of medical indemnity issues and declining obstetricians.
AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the services provided by the Community Midwifery Program and the current medical indemnity crisis, combined with the declining number of general practitioner and specialist obstetricians, I ask -
(1) Do you acknowledge that there is sound evidence that this midwifery model of care reduces costs and improves maternal and neonatal outcomes?
(2) Do you acknowledge that this program is cost effective and highly valued?
(3) Why is this program restricted to 150 women per year when many more women want to utilise this service and cannot?
(4) What are you doing to enable more women in Western Australian metropolitan and country areas to access this program?
(1) Do you acknowledge that there is sound evidence that this midwifery model of care reduces costs and improves maternal and neonatal outcomes?
(2) Do you acknowledge that this program is cost effective and highly valued?
(3) Why is this program restricted to 150 women per year when many more women want to utilise this service and cannot?
(4) What are you doing to enable more women in Western Australian metropolitan and country areas to access this program?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 December 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
29 days
1.
For the year 2001 there were 23,127 registered births in WA. A total of 19,838 of these births occurred in the metropolitan area – 10,570 of which took place in public hospitals and 9,268 in the private sector. Of the births in public hospitals 300 took place at the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) birthing centre. For the same period 160 registered births occurred through the Community Midwifery Program – 36 of which ended up as hospital deliveries. Given the diverse nature of pregnancy and birthing choice, it is not possible to directly compare the outcomes of community births with wider midwifery and obstetric services.
2.
Yes, where a women's pregnancy and subsequent birth is uncomplicated. The Government's recognition of the importance of birthing choice was demonstrated by an immediate response to the recent Community Midwifery indemnity crisis. As a result of Guild Insurance withdrawing professional indemnity cover for independent Midwives on a national basis, the Western Australian Government put in place an interim employment solution for Community Midwives. The Women's and Children's Health Service through KEMH has employed community midwives since 2001, so that they can have appropriate insurance cover and continue to offer ante-natal, birthing and post-natal care to public patients.
3.
The program is not restricted to 150 women per year however, up to 150 births per year are funded by the State. Western Australia is the only State that has continually funded a non-government organisation to provide Community Midwifery Services. Submissions for funding are submitted annually to the Department of Health and are considered against the total allocated budget for maternity services for the state. In order to provide birthing choice public hospitals are moving towards the provision of home-like birthing environments. Women also have the option of privately engaging a home birth practitioner. Some private health insurance funds offer a rebate for these services.
4.
A system wide review of maternity services is currently being undertaken and the Department of Health is working with representatives from the Community Midwifery program to develop new service models, which address the indemnity issues and the long-term sustainability of the program.
For the year 2001 there were 23,127 registered births in WA. A total of 19,838 of these births occurred in the metropolitan area – 10,570 of which took place in public hospitals and 9,268 in the private sector. Of the births in public hospitals 300 took place at the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) birthing centre. For the same period 160 registered births occurred through the Community Midwifery Program – 36 of which ended up as hospital deliveries. Given the diverse nature of pregnancy and birthing choice, it is not possible to directly compare the outcomes of community births with wider midwifery and obstetric services.
2.
Yes, where a women's pregnancy and subsequent birth is uncomplicated. The Government's recognition of the importance of birthing choice was demonstrated by an immediate response to the recent Community Midwifery indemnity crisis. As a result of Guild Insurance withdrawing professional indemnity cover for independent Midwives on a national basis, the Western Australian Government put in place an interim employment solution for Community Midwives. The Women's and Children's Health Service through KEMH has employed community midwives since 2001, so that they can have appropriate insurance cover and continue to offer ante-natal, birthing and post-natal care to public patients.
3.
The program is not restricted to 150 women per year however, up to 150 births per year are funded by the State. Western Australia is the only State that has continually funded a non-government organisation to provide Community Midwifery Services. Submissions for funding are submitted annually to the Department of Health and are considered against the total allocated budget for maternity services for the state. In order to provide birthing choice public hospitals are moving towards the provision of home-like birthing environments. Women also have the option of privately engaging a home birth practitioner. Some private health insurance funds offer a rebate for these services.
4.
A system wide review of maternity services is currently being undertaken and the Department of Health is working with representatives from the Community Midwifery program to develop new service models, which address the indemnity issues and the long-term sustainability of the program.
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