NEWS RELEASE - Tuesday May 18 2004

Have the Government been Listening? Advocacy group surveys 400 women in a week who all agree that greater support is the key to better care

Last Week the NT Government announced a refurbishment of the current Darwin Hospital Maternity unit to make good its promise of a birth centre for Darwin.

The NT Government in fact promised a separate birth centre, purpose built. Soft furnishings and pretty interiors are lovely to look at. They have long been proven to have little if any effect on improving maternity care for women. Women in Darwin say they would like the room to look pretty but being cared for by a midwife they know is far more important. said Virginia Nock, President of the NT Branch of the Maternity Coalition."

"The Government may think that the women of Darwin are fooled, but 400 women in one week have clearly stated that they want a facility separate from the hospital, they want a true community midwifery program" said Ms Nock

"The Government has not been out talking with women in playgroups, around sand-pits with kids. I repeatedly hear that families are being hurt through a lack of support. The majority of women need emotional support in dealing with the transition to motherhood and the early days of parenting." said Ms Nock.

"Our maternity care needs to follow women and their families. The majority of care must be out of the hospital, care that looks at the whole family, rather than just a stint in hospital." said Ms Nock."

"Community care is world class. Midwives get to know women and their families. This care is unlike any other and provides greater safety for women." said Ms Nock

"Midwives pick up complications quicker as they have known the woman much longer than in current programs." said Ms Nock

For the majority of women that do not experience complications the pre and post natal support provides much better outcomes, increasing breastfeeding rates, and reducing post-natal depression."

In New Zealand Maori women have flocked to community midwifery. For the first time holistic maternity care has been able to address social problems such as family violence and substance abuse. Community Midwifery has long been recommended and called on by indigenous leaders as a way to promote health and wellbeing in Aboriginal communities."

Contact: Virginia Nock 89482043

P.O. Box 1190
Blackburn North,
Victoria 3130
Australia