Exciting change about to happen for women having their babies at Western District Health Service
July 10, 2009
Worldwide, there is a growing shortage of midwives, and the Western District has not been immune to this trend. As the midwifery workforce ages, fewer midwives are available to meet the needs of women throughout the continuum of pregnancy and birth. Many nurses who have chosen a career in midwifery are graduating as direct entry midwives. This means that they can be employed exclusively as midwives and are not available to work in other areas such as surgery, which has been the traditional model for hospitals the size of Hamilton Base Hospital, which services around 220-230 births per year.
As a response to a smaller pool of midwives and government initiatives, Western District Health Service is embarking on an innovative new way of providing maternity care, which will enhance and sustain safe maternity services for the community for many years to come.
Western District Health Service Midwifery Model Coordinator, Pauline Kearns said “Women who choose to have their babies at Hamilton Base Hospital will be able to develop a one-to-one relationship with their midwife for the midwifery component of their care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally. Each woman is assigned to a midwife, with support from one or more midwives from within the Hamilton Model Midwifery Care. This compliments the care provided by our specialist obstetrician and the three general practitioners currently offering maternity services”.
“Staff at the hospital are looking forward enthusiastically to the imminent commencement of the new model of care, which will provide better continuity of care for mothers and babies”, she said.
The new midwifery model of care will be implemented on 15th June 2009 and families requiring further information can contact on 5551 8222.
Photo: New mum Silvina Werner, with her first baby Lucy Paula Werner.