❓ Ms. Sanderson inquires about the government's progress in providing greater choice in maternity care, particularly regarding endorsed privately practicing midwives. The Minister highlights the King Edward Memorial Hospital program allowing private midwives and other initiatives to improve maternity services across WA.
AnsweredQoN 804Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KING EDWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN —PRIVATE
MIDWIVES — MIDWIFERY SERVICES
804. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to putting patients
first, in particular supporting expectant mothers across the state. Can
the minister update the house on how this government is delivering greater
choice in maternity care for Western Australian parents, in particular the
recent announcement on endorsed privately practising midwives?
MIDWIVES — MIDWIFERY SERVICES
804. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to putting patients
first, in particular supporting expectant mothers across the state. Can
the minister update the house on how this government is delivering greater
choice in maternity care for Western Australian parents, in particular the
recent announcement on endorsed privately practising midwives?
AnswerView source ↗
I am delighted to provide the
chamber with more information on this great policy initiative, one that we are
very proud of. We want to put patients first. Some of the most important
patients that we want to put first are the mums and bubs of Western Australia.
In particular, we want to provide the mums of Western Australia with birthing
options in the way they have their babies so they can deliver happy, healthy
kids. Many members in the chamber may not
have been aware that if expectant mothers engaged an endorsed privately
practising midwife, there was no option to have their child in a hospital;
they simply had to opt for a home birth. Under this program, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women is the first tertiary
public hospital in Western Australia to welcome private midwives ; having completed a successful pilot project and
creating an EPPM access policy. There are currently three endorsed privately practising midwives who can work at King Edward Memorial Hospital,
the first being Clare Davison, who recently delivered her first baby at the
hospital under the program. I was very happy to join baby George and his mum,
Emily Slattery. Emily is the mother of three kids. The first two were delivered
by caesarean section. She was very keen for a natural birth. One of the ways
she knew she could do this was by engaging a highly practised and trained
midwife that she had a good relationship with and trusted. It meant that she
could access antenatal, intra-partum and
postnatal care with Clare Davison. It provides an opportunity for mums to have
their baby with the private midwife of their choice in the surrounds of the
hospital so they can get the support they need if necessary.
This is a fantastic initiative. It
provides mums of Western Australia with more birthing options. It comes in
addition to the other policies that we have implemented, including the funding
of a new $1.8 million family birthing centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital; the
commitment of funds towards the new women's and babies hospital; securing
the future of maternity services at Bentley Hospital; improving neonatal
nursery facilities and introducing a model of team midwifery at Osborne Park
Hospital; expanding the midwifery group practices to Northam; and funding a new
community midwife service for antenatal appointments in inland Pilbara towns.
There can be no more important
activity of a health service than to make our parents feel cared for. I am sure
I join all members in thanking officers from the Department of Health who have
worked tirelessly to put this program in place. I am very happy to put these
patients of Western Australia first.
chamber with more information on this great policy initiative, one that we are
very proud of. We want to put patients first. Some of the most important
patients that we want to put first are the mums and bubs of Western Australia.
In particular, we want to provide the mums of Western Australia with birthing
options in the way they have their babies so they can deliver happy, healthy
kids. Many members in the chamber may not
have been aware that if expectant mothers engaged an endorsed privately
practising midwife, there was no option to have their child in a hospital;
they simply had to opt for a home birth. Under this program, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women is the first tertiary
public hospital in Western Australia to welcome private midwives ; having completed a successful pilot project and
creating an EPPM access policy. There are currently three endorsed privately practising midwives who can work at King Edward Memorial Hospital,
the first being Clare Davison, who recently delivered her first baby at the
hospital under the program. I was very happy to join baby George and his mum,
Emily Slattery. Emily is the mother of three kids. The first two were delivered
by caesarean section. She was very keen for a natural birth. One of the ways
she knew she could do this was by engaging a highly practised and trained
midwife that she had a good relationship with and trusted. It meant that she
could access antenatal, intra-partum and
postnatal care with Clare Davison. It provides an opportunity for mums to have
their baby with the private midwife of their choice in the surrounds of the
hospital so they can get the support they need if necessary.
This is a fantastic initiative. It
provides mums of Western Australia with more birthing options. It comes in
addition to the other policies that we have implemented, including the funding
of a new $1.8 million family birthing centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital; the
commitment of funds towards the new women's and babies hospital; securing
the future of maternity services at Bentley Hospital; improving neonatal
nursery facilities and introducing a model of team midwifery at Osborne Park
Hospital; expanding the midwifery group practices to Northam; and funding a new
community midwife service for antenatal appointments in inland Pilbara towns.
There can be no more important
activity of a health service than to make our parents feel cared for. I am sure
I join all members in thanking officers from the Department of Health who have
worked tirelessly to put this program in place. I am very happy to put these
patients of Western Australia first.
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