BRIDGING THE GAP: CITY AND BUSH PUSH FOR BETTER BIRTHS
In a unprecedented show of universal support for better maternity services, mums (and dads), rural groups, midwives, nurses and doctors will join 'Bridging the gap' walks across Queensland today to show the Queensland Government the need to improve maternity care.

188* women and babies across the state are expected to join the 'Bridging the Gap' rallies in Brisbane, Townsville, Mareeba and Stanthorpe to symbolise the number of babies born on the roadside last year in Queensland.

The women and babies will walk to 'bridge the gap' between the needs of women in rural, remote and Indigenous communities compared to their city cousins, and to bridge the gap between what families and women want from their birth care providers and what they currently receive. Thirty six of Queensland's 84 public birthing facilities have closed in the past 10 years.

The mother and babies, Maternity Coalition and other birthing groups, rural community groups, the Australian College of Midwives, Queensland Nurses' Union, the Rural Doctors' Association of Queensland and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine will call on the Queensland Government to endorse the recommendations of Re-Birthing* and to work with them to start improving the state's maternity care service.

Australia's lead maternity care consumer advocacy group, Maternity Coalition (Queensland) President, Bruce Teakle said, "It's not good enough that on average five women a week give birth on the side of a road or in a hospital with no birthing facilities in Queensland.

"We would like to see full and swift implementation of ALL the recommendations so women and their families are back where they belong - at the centre of their birth care services.

"A relatively small initial outlay by Queensland Government could dramatically improve the services offered to families in the short term as well a providing a range of significant longer term cost savings. A lot of it is about using the current resources - people, money, skills, knowledge - in a smarter way. It's important to Queensland's mothers and babies that this opportunity is not overlooked during the current sweeping changes that are now taking place in Queensland Health."

Maternity care consumer groups including Friends of the Birth Centre, Home Midwifery Association, Childbirth Education Association, and the Mareeba Mothers and Midwives Alliance support the report's Principles of Care which would form the basis of a statewide maternity policy.

The set up of an independent, multidisciplinary Centre for Mothers and Families that reports directly to the Minister is a key recommendation that would drive the much-needed reforms where others have failed.

Australian Women in Agriculture President, Jan Cameron said, "We fully support Mareeba midwives in the pilot of midwife-led care currently underway. The Government and Queensland Health have taken the lead in this initiative as a result of Re-Birthing and are to be commended. Australian Women in Agriculture anticipate the pilot results will enable communities across Queensland to access maternity services so agricultural and rural women and their families can safely start their lives together in their own local community."

Australian College of Midwives Queensland Branch President, Jenny Gamble said, "The recommendations pave the way to an improved and fairer system for everyone involved in maternity care: the mothers, babies, families, midwives, GPs and obstetricians. The current emphasis on hospital-based, obstetric led care has led to the crisis we see today: a shortage of obstetricians and midwives, and hospitals struggling to meet demand. The report shows how a sustainable maternity system can be built around community-based, midwife-led care, a system which is endorsed by the World Health Organisation."

Rural Doctors' Association of Queensland President, Dr Jon Outridge said, "In the past decade 36 rural maternity units have closed, despite an above average safety record. Closure of rural maternity facilities increases the risk for mothers and babies in those communities. The personal, financial and social costs of leaving your community to give birth are heavy. We need improved funding and flexible working arrangements to ensure sustainable birthing units are restored across the state. We look forward to working with families, midwives and the Government to ensure this happens."

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine President, Dr Bruce Chater said, "There is no doubt that maternity services need to be reformed to meet the needs of our rural communities. Skills, training, teamwork and infrastructure are the key ingredients needed."

Queensland Nurses' Union Secretary, Gay Hawksworth said, "It is time midwives were recognised for the role they can play in providing Queensland's women with a sustainable maternity service. For too long our midwives have not been able to practice for what they were trained to do and that is to care for healthy women and newborns during pregnancy, labour and immediately after the birth."

Ends
* Perinatal Data Collection, Queensland Health 2004 figures show 188 babies 'born before arrival'. Add to this the 81 women who in 2003 birthed their baby in a hospital in the local area with no birthing facilities (p21, Re-Birthing) and you have approx 260 babies born (approx five per week) each year not at their intended place of birth.

Re-Birthing was publicly released in May and will soon go to Cabinet. It can be downloaded from www.maternityservicesreviewqld.net.au/whatsnew.htm Re-Birthing highlighted three priorities for change including the need to improve rural maternity services, improve outcomes for Indigenous women and their babies, and to better integrate maternity care so women receive better post birth care.

Photo opportunities for Monday 3 October:
Brisbane Viewing platform in the middle of Goodwill Bridge. Meet at 11.20am for 11.30 start. About 80-100 mums and babies will walk across the bridge. (Ph Joanne Smethurst on 0424 493 201)
Townsville Nathan Street Bridge, Stockland side. Assemble at 8.30am for a 9.00am start. Rally of mums across bridge (Phone Philippa Scott on 0407 648 349)
Mareeba Arnold Park at 10.00am (Ph Miranda Reis on 4093 3041)
Stanthorpe Library Park at 10.30am (Ph Allison Gaffney 4683 2888 or 0404 648 486)

For more information contact:
Maternity Coalition, Joanne Smethurst, 3256 8127 or 0424 493 201 Australian College of Midwives, Jenny Gamble 3382 1083
Australian Women in Agriculture, Jan Cameron, 4097 2377 Rural Doctors Association of Queensland,
Jon Outridge 5494 3999
Queensland Nurses' Union, Gay Hawksworth, 3844 9387 Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine,
Bruce Chater 0419 674 164

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