Media Release - Friday December 2002

Decline in maternity services in the Illawarra

Women in the Illawarra face a decline in maternity services. The newly formed Illawarra Maternity Coalition believes that maternity beds in hospitals are likely to close.

"The maternity unit at Shellharbour Hospital has been threatened with closure three times over the last two years‚ said Illawarra Maternity Coalition convenor Lisa Metcalfe. "We oppose any reduction in maternity care service to the women of the Illawarra. We demand choices in maternity health care‚ she said.

In 2000 the NSW Health Department‚s Framework for Maternity Services proposed one-on-one continuous midwifery care. This initiative has never been implemented or even trialed in the State. At present women have limited choice in maternity services. As resources contract the choices and level of care available to women in regional areas will also decline.

"Women are no longer given supported choices about their maternity care‚" said Ms Metcalfe. "However, if NSW adopted the National Maternity Action Plan, women would be given choice of care by known midwives through pregnancy, birth and the newborn period. This Plan provides for safe cost effective and beneficial care to women and babies by ensuring a consistent and familiar person provides support during the sometimes difficult transition into motherhood."

The National Maternity Action Plan, endorsed today, provides a detailed outline of maternity care options shown to reduce post-natal depression, reduce interventions during birth and increase breastfeeding rates. This comprehensive document launched in September of this year, is supported by the Australian Senate. A detailed implementation plan has been written and is due to be put before by the NSW Maternity Services Advisory Committee this week.

"It is time for the Illawarra Area Health Services to embrace the future in maternity care for women. The Illawarra Maternity Coalition believes that the Shellharbour Hospital is an ideal place for the NSW Health Department to run a team midwifery program." said Ms Metcalfe

Contact: Lisa Metcalfe 4268 1675, Convenor Illawarra Maternity Coalition

What: Endorsement of National Maternity Action Plan in the Illawarra 
Where: MacCabe Park Playground (near former Integral Energy Building) 
When: Friday 13th December 2002 at 9.45am. (see more here)

more information www.maternitycoalition.org.au