❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Health about substandard midwifery services in Carnarvon. The Minister cites low birth rates impacting staff competency as a challenge, while assuring services are temporary and working on a solution.
AnsweredQoN 68Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NURSES AND MIDWIVES —
REGIONS
68. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Why
are the midwifery team and expectant mothers in Carnarvon still suffering with
substandard services after two years?
REGIONS
68. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Why
are the midwifery team and expectant mothers in Carnarvon still suffering with
substandard services after two years?
AnswerView source ↗
The member and I have had this
discussion many times, and I am happy to have it with her again. I will explain
the numbers. It is how maths works, and how competencies and skill levels work.
Carnarvon has a level of birthing that is
just over around 100 babies a year. If we could have more babies in Carnarvon,
that would be great. To offer a genuine midwifery-led and GP obstetric
service, the numbers are not high enough for those professionals to keep their
competency.
Ms M. Beard : So it is not
temporary.
Ms A. SANDERSON : It is
absolutely temporary.
Ms M. Beard : For two years.
Ms A. SANDERSON : Those professionals
need to keep their competency. Midwives need to be able to birth to keep their
competency or they cannot be midwives anymore. That is just a fact.
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
Ms L. Dalton : I am from the
regions. If you have got safe delivery, why not?
Ms A. SANDERSON : The most
important thing to any delivering mother is safety. Number one is safety. There is no question that we are expanding birthing
services and the choices for birthing services, but we know the Leader of
the Liberal Party wants to shut down expansion of birthing services with her
position on women and newborns. She wants to shut down the family birthing
centre in Osborne Park. But back to the regions.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Leader of the Liberal Party.
Ms A. SANDERSON : We are
working hard to establish a model that will support the re-establishment of
birthing services in Carnarvon. In the meantime, we are expanding the midwifery
group practice across regional areas and working
with our GP partners to do so. The reality is, when providing choice, we also
need numbers. We are working through what a workforce model looks like
for areas like Carnarvon, because we are not alone in this. This is not unique
to Western Australia or regional Western Australia. We have seen entire
maternity wings in large regional areas of Queensland close. We are talking
about large regional towns, and significant towns the size of Bunbury. This is a workforce issue globally. We are a very
attractive employer in regional WA and people want to come here , but
they have the right to maintain their competencies. We are working with the
sector on what a model looks like for Carnarvon. Meanwhile, we are absolutely
committed to providing safe services.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members,
that concludes question time.
discussion many times, and I am happy to have it with her again. I will explain
the numbers. It is how maths works, and how competencies and skill levels work.
Carnarvon has a level of birthing that is
just over around 100 babies a year. If we could have more babies in Carnarvon,
that would be great. To offer a genuine midwifery-led and GP obstetric
service, the numbers are not high enough for those professionals to keep their
competency.
Ms M. Beard : So it is not
temporary.
Ms A. SANDERSON : It is
absolutely temporary.
Ms M. Beard : For two years.
Ms A. SANDERSON : Those professionals
need to keep their competency. Midwives need to be able to birth to keep their
competency or they cannot be midwives anymore. That is just a fact.
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
Ms L. Dalton : I am from the
regions. If you have got safe delivery, why not?
Ms A. SANDERSON : The most
important thing to any delivering mother is safety. Number one is safety. There is no question that we are expanding birthing
services and the choices for birthing services, but we know the Leader of
the Liberal Party wants to shut down expansion of birthing services with her
position on women and newborns. She wants to shut down the family birthing
centre in Osborne Park. But back to the regions.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Leader of the Liberal Party.
Ms A. SANDERSON : We are
working hard to establish a model that will support the re-establishment of
birthing services in Carnarvon. In the meantime, we are expanding the midwifery
group practice across regional areas and working
with our GP partners to do so. The reality is, when providing choice, we also
need numbers. We are working through what a workforce model looks like
for areas like Carnarvon, because we are not alone in this. This is not unique
to Western Australia or regional Western Australia. We have seen entire
maternity wings in large regional areas of Queensland close. We are talking
about large regional towns, and significant towns the size of Bunbury. This is a workforce issue globally. We are a very
attractive employer in regional WA and people want to come here , but
they have the right to maintain their competencies. We are working with the
sector on what a model looks like for Carnarvon. Meanwhile, we are absolutely
committed to providing safe services.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members,
that concludes question time.
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