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Maternity Coalition Press Releases
NEWS RELEASE - Thursday 9
September 2004
Women Queuing for Midwifery Care:
Abbott refuses to listen to women
Safe Maternity Care is an election Issue: Marginals Told
"Forget the Safety Net, women feel safer
with their own midwife," was the message to Federal Health Minister Tony
Abbott, Liberal candidate Ingrid Tall, and sitting member Arch Bevis today from
a coalition of maternity care consumer groups representing mothers in the
electorate of Brisbane.
"Maternity care consumer groups from all around Australia are demanding
midwifery models of care, as provided by the Birth Centre at Royal Brisbane
Hospital in the Brisbane electorate" said Maternity Coalition spokesperson
Francesca Lejeune.
"Federal Health Minister Abbott has just given private obstetricians a
further $2000 per birth of taxpayer's money, but midwives who provide the same
service in normal birth have no federal funding at all," said Ms Lejeune.
"This is a slap in the face for the women who are queuing up for the ballot
at the Birth Centre, which is the only funded one-to-one midwifery service in
South-East Queensland."
Friends of the Birth Centre President Jodie Miller said that a recent review had
shown that Birth Centre care cost the taxpayer under $2500 per birth, despite
the luxurious standard of care.
"It appears that taxpayers are paying half as much for a Birth Centre birth
as they pay in subsidies for a private hospital birth," said Ms Lejeune.
"Instead of simply opening the funding tap for private obstetricians wider,
it's time to re-examine the whole monopoly granted to doctors for maternity
care, and allow women to choose a midwife if they prefer".
"In New Zealand midwives are funded equally to doctors for providing normal
birth care, and 75% of New Zealand women choose a midwife," said Ms
Lejeune. "This saves money, and provides women with access to one-to-one
care from a caregiver they know and trust."
Representatives from Maternity Coalition, Friends of the Birth Centre, the Home
Midwifery Association, and the Australian College of Midwives will meet with
candidates for the seat of Brisbane today, seeking commitment to reform of
Australia's maternity care system so that it works for women and families.
Contact: Francesca Lejeune: 3844 3656, 0417 389 565
Bruce Teakle: 0438 736 740
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