NEWS RELEASE - Thursday August 12 2004

Country Mum Comes to Canberra to demand better Healthcare: John Anderson must support rural families

"It seems the Federal Government is breaching its duty of care to rural women and their families, by not providing safe or sustainable maternity care" said Danette Watson, Maternity Coalition member, mother of 3 and resident of Young in rural NSW.

Today, Ms Watson will urge Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson to support rural families and help with immediate professional indemnity protection for community midwives. "Where is the National Party when country people really need them? Today we are supported by the Greens in seeking safe and sustainable maternity care for rural families." said Ms Watson.

"Unlike other health professionals we have many midwives providing an excellent service within rural communities and yet to date the Government refuses to assist. This is absurd." said Ms Watson

"Currently many rural and regional women are forced to travel hundreds of kilometres for maternity care. The current situation is not safe, women deserve better and we have a proven solution" said Ms Watson

"Midwives working in rural communities could also provide much needed women's health services and critical post-natal support. By bringing this care back within communities we are not only supporting and strengthening families but re-invigorating the towns that have lost these important services."

"Communities have been led to believe that services were removed because they could not continue safely, this is simply not true. The majority of women can give birth in a primary unit very safely, in fact safer than if in a large overstretched hospital and certainly more safely than if giving birth in the car on the way there" said Ms Watson.

"Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has shown no commitment to providing rural families with safe and sustainable maternity care. Mr Anderson understands country life, but where is he on this issue? We urge him to take our case directly to the Prime Minister." said Ms Watson

The Government estimates it will spend $560 M on medical indemnity over the next 4 years. It also spends millions subsidising private health insurance. Country people receive no benefit because the services are simply not available publicly or privately. "Consumers of Obstetricians in metropolitan areas are afforded huge benefits and yet women who want to be cared for within their community and choose a local midwife are not, this is wrong." said Ms Watson

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