Maternity Coalition Press Releases
NEWS RELEASE July 07, 2006
Tony Abbott’s Plans for 3rd World Health Services in the Bush
What Does Julia Gillard Plan for Rural Families?
“Tony Abbott’s proposed change to maternity services has sentenced rural families to ‘Third World’ care for years to come,” said Joanne Smethurst, mother and QLD Vice President of Maternity Coalition.
The Federal Health Minister and his department are pushing through a new Medicare item so registered nurses, Aboriginal health workers and even enrolled nurses can do ante-natal checks on behalf of an untrained GP for women in rural and remote Australia.
“Allowing untrained doctors overseeing untrained nurses to provide ante-natal care for women in the bush is unprecedented and is clear evidence of a two-tiered health system. Tony Abbott must immediately reverse this dangerous plan, in order to protect the lives of rural mothers and their babies,” said Ms Smethurst.
” see full release here
NEWS RELEASE June 28, 2006
Birthing women condemned to third-world care
““Tony Abbott’s proposed change to birth care has sentenced rural families to ‘Third World’ care for years to come,” said Justine Caines, rural mother and policy coordinator for Maternity Coalition.
“Allowing untrained doctors overseeing untrained nurses to provide ante-natal care for women in the bush is unprecedented and is clear evidence of a two-tiered health system. Tony Abbott must immediately reverse this dangerous plan, in order to protect the lives of rural mothers and their babies,” said Ms Caines.
The Federal Health Minister and his department are pushing through a new Medicare item so registered nurses, Aboriginal health workers and even enrolled nurses can do ante-natal checks on behalf of a GP or specialist obstetrician for women in rural and remote Australia.
” see full release here
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Bush Birth? - 3rd World Status Can be Resolved
“There is a solution to 3rd world maternity care in rural areas. Not one more Australian woman needs to face the danger of roadside birth and the Federal and State Governments have had the answer for five years.” said Justine Caines, Policy adviser for the Maternity Coalition and rural mum of six.
“Our rural GP’s are important but utilising them for the majority of normal pregnancies is insane. GP’s must be used for cases that require medical intervention. Midwifery clinics are the proven safe answer to returning local maternity services.” see full release here
New research advocates giving birth back to rural communities
The closure of small rural and remote maternity units in Australia has come under fire as new Australian research published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology this week shows small maternity units are safer for low risk women than large tertiary hospitals. The study, titled Does size matter? A population-based study of birth in lower volume maternity hospitals for low risk women dispels the myth that large Australian tertiary hospitals in urban centres are safer than small maternity hospitals in both urban and rural and remote areas. Study author, Dr Sally Tracy said: "The research shows that low risk women have better outcomes in smaller units. In fact, the smaller the unit the better the outcomes. see full release here
NEWS RELEASE September 28, 2005
Obstetricians stoop to scare mongering
Australia's leading maternity consumer group, Maternity Coalition, is disgusted that obstetricians have resorted to scare mongering in an attempt to retain control of childbirth. National President of Maternity Coalition said, "Childbirth belongs to women and babies - midwives, general practitioners and obstetricians are there to support and assist them during this highly significant and intimate life event. see full release here
Breaking the Childbirth monopoly
It's time to break the current doctor-led monopoly on childbirth by giving midwives their proper place in maternity services so women can finally get back their childbearing rights said Maternity Coalition. National President of Maternity Coalition, Leslie Arnott said, "There is absolutely no logical reason why general practitioners and specialist obstetricians should have sole rights to provide basic maternity care for Australia's women."Not only does this situation deny choice to women during the highly significant and intimate life event of childbearing, but it also denies their basic human rights." see full release here
Medicare number for midwives welcome: women will have real choice in maternity care"The Government's plan to provide Medicare numbers to midwives is welcomed, "said Leslie Arnott, National President of Maternity Coalition, Australia's national maternity advocacy organisation. "The Maternity Coalition has been asking for better maternity care options for all women, including midwifery care, and now it appears that the Federal government is finally listening."
"This is a particularly important decision for rural women, many of who do not have access to a maternity service at all. Midwives in rural communities can meet the demand for sustainable maternity services" said Ms Arnott.see full release here
Howard must have a fully functional workforce to enable health reform and prevent women and babies from risk
Last week Prime Minister Howard agreed with state premiers that broad health reform was necessary. Surely reform will only be successful if health professionals work appropriately and to their capacity. Australian midwives are currently totally under utilised. A group of midwives and mothers representing thousands across the country will meet in Canberra tomorrow for an urgent summit to facilitate safe maternity services Australia-wide.see full release here...
Queensland mums and babies are winners in maternity review, says Maternity Coalition
Recommendations from Rebirthing: Report of the Review of Maternity Services in Queensland, released today, signal an historic shift in maternity care policy.
President of Maternity Coalition Queensland branch, Bruce Teakle, said, “This report puts women and their families firmly at the centre of their birth care services, and provides a strong and realistic framework for reform. see the full release here...
Upper Hunter women call for greater choice in maternity care
Upper Hunter women and their families want more choice in the most important decision of their life, having a baby, says Justine Caines, local Mum and President of the Maternity Coalition a national consumer group. Shari Bonnet is one of those women and she has formed a local group under the banner of Maternity Coalition, called Upper Hunter Birth Choice " I guess the name says it all " says Ms Bonnette. Upper Hunter women deserve the same choice as women down the valley." See the full release here...
Medicare Safety net blow-out can be stemmed
Recent media reports have revealed that much of the Medicare safety-net blow out is due to a huge increase in claims by private obstetricians. Private Obstetricians only provide care to around one third of Australian women, around 80,000 of the 250,000 births each year.
"Australian taxpayers are funding an elite service operating nearly exclusively in metropolitan and large regional centres, while many rural women suffer without a safe local service ." said Justine Caines, National President of Maternity Coalition. See the full release here
Rural Lives will be lost unless swift action is taken:
Calls on Minister to provide Midwives with Medicare Provider Numbers
Key groups will meet in Alice Springs today as a forerunner of the 8th Rural Health Conference. Birthing in the Bush is a major priority for 2005 of the Rural Health Alliance, organiser of the national conference."Rural Maternity services are in dire trouble. Many Australian women and their babies are being put in danger due to a lack of services. Maternity Coalition does not believe Federal Health Minister, Tony Abbott fully appreciates how serious this issue is." said Justine Caines, President of the Maternity Coalition Australia's peak national consumer advocacy group.See the full release here...
Camden Women to benefit from World Class Midwifery Care
Women in the Macarthur region will be second only to those in Ryde to experience the ‘Rolls-Royce’ in maternity care, that is care from one midwife from early pregnancy through labour and birth and post-natally.
Health Minister, Morris Iemma committed to the development of a midwifery model based on Ryde.See the full release here...
Greens demand Warren Snowdon listen to Territory families: $50 Million to Hospital but still no focus on primary healthcare for mothers
Greens demand Warren Snowdon listen to Territory families: $50 Million to Hospital but still no focus on primary healthcare for mothersIn Alice Springs and Darwin today the Green's join women in demanding the federal government spend their taxpayer's health money more wisely, and provide maternity health services that indigenous and non indigenous women across the Territory have been crying out for the last 20 years.See the full release here...
MIDWIFERY CARE SOLUTION TO OBSTETRIC SHORTAGES
Women and their partners, and Western Australian taxpayers, are being short changed in maternity services. Instead of high quality integrated maternity services offering the choice of either primary midwifery or obstetric care, maternity services are failing to deliver real options of care. See the full release here...
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. See the full release here...
NEWS RELEASE - Wednesday September 8 2004
Obstetric Rip Off- No services for rural women: All Health consumers will suffer from Medicare Blow-out
The Government's plan to include obstetric services into Medicare is grossly inequitable said Justine Caines, National President of Maternity Coalition, Australia's national maternity advocacy organisation. See the full release here...
Mum's dying in childbirth, Figures already 5 years old! Indigenous Death Rate 3 times higher than non-indigenous
Maternal Deaths: 1997-99 report released yesterday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is old news, 5 years in fact" said Justine Caines, National President of the Maternity Coalition. See the full release here...
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. See the full release here...
Lack of Government action puts NT women and babies at risk - Greens pressure government to act.
Last week the Northern Territory Nurses Board refused to re-register midwives practicing in the community because they have been unable to purchase indemnity insurance. Despite seeking assistance for 3 years both state and federal governments have refused to assist them. This act not only removes choice for women but potentially places them in danger. See the full release here...
Birthing Services Review Welcomed by Consumers
Australia's peak maternity care consumer group, Maternity Coalition, welcomed today's announcement of a review of Queensland's maternity services. "Queensland's mothers have been pushing for this review for a long time" said Maternity Coalition state president Bruce Teakle. See the full release here...
Rural Mothers Urge John Anderson to support the return of maternity services
"Country women and families seem to have been forgotten by the Federal Government" said Justine Caines, National President of the Maternity Coalition, mother of 4 and resident of Merriwa in rural NSW. See the full release here...
Clare Remembers Women of the Past, What about the here and Now
Today, NT Chief Minister Clare Martin remembers and honours the achievement of territory women. The Maternity Coalition welcomes this but is disappointed at the Chief Minister's lack of commitment to women in the territory now. See the full release here...
Consumers Applaud Victorian Government Move to Safe and Sustainable Maternity Care
Maternity Coalition, Australia's national maternity consumer organisation applauds Victorian Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike on the launch of Future Directions for Victoria's maternity services today. See the full release here...
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. See the full release here...
More Cash Thrown at Families to Buy Votes - Early Prevention Not More Bandaids
"Families may be lured by the cash, but again the major parties have bought into the quick fix. Mother's and families need early intervention strategies and ongoing support." said Justine Caines, National President of the Maternity Coalition. See the full release here...
Mothers' Day Wish to Latham and Howard - More Supportive Maternity Care - Mother's Week of Action May 1-9
Women across Australia are joining forces demanding the Federal Government and Opposition take leadership in providing Australian women with better maternity care. In the week leading up to Mothers' Day women across the country will be holding rallies in protest against sub standard maternity care. See the full release here...
International Midwives Day, May 5th 2004
Hunter Women Deserve Choice In Maternity Care. Midwives Can Enhance Services
Today, 5 May, midwives around the world celebrate the 'International Day of the Midwife'. Local advocate and National President of the Maternity Coalition, Justine Caines (Mother of 4) joins consumers across Australia demanding choice for women, especially country women. See the full release here...
International Midwives Day, May 5th 2004
Safe, Affordable & Sustainable Maternity Care Depends On Barriers Being Lifted
On Wednesday 5 May, midwives around the world celebrate the 'International Day of the Midwife'. Midwives across Australia celebrate their profession and the crucial work they do in partnership with women, providing care, information and support throughout pregnancy, labour and the early weeks following childbirth. See the full release here...
Midwives Picnic Day Sunday 30th November: Birth, Babies and Christmas
Members of Midwives In Private Practice (MIPP) are celebrating birth, babies and Christmas on Sunday 30th November at the Darebin Park (end of Separation Street, Alphington) See the full release here...
Listen to Consumers: How We Can Solve the Obstetric Crisis and Save $61 MIL per year
Current discussions between the Federal Government and the AMA will not return services to regional and rural Australia. "The AMA says it's all about patients so they need to start hearing from them... See the full release here...
Improved Maternity Care & Savings through Midwives and Medicare: Medicare Committee receives evidence on how
By better use of the midwifery workforce, a saving of an estimated at $200 Million could be made to the federal health budget annually. Maternity care is provided annually for 250,000 women and their babies. Prenatal care is a huge item in Medicare rebates. See the full release here...
Fed & State Gov Refuse To Save $200,000,000 in Health Care: Maternity Care Acounts for the highest number of Hospital Bed Days
"While the Commonwealth and State Government's negotiate the new Australian Healthcare Agreement at the Council of Australian Governments meeting, the cost of maternity services escalates and the quality of and access to care declines. Governments continue to refuse to listen to consumers who have a proven formula to lower cost, improve outcomes and increase access to services in rural areas.. See the full release here...
Women Better Off With Fewer Private Obstetricians
'Pregnant women will be better off with fewer obstetricians in private practice' said Dr Barbara Vernon, President of the national maternity consumers group, Maternity Coalition today. See the full release here...
'Know your midwife' the solution to maternity crisis
Immediate government initiatives to support a greater choice of maternity carer for ACT women would reduce the harm caused by striking obstetricians, the Maternity Coalition said today. Instead of capitulating to private obstetricians demands, the government should take practical steps to support more choice of carer for the ACT's birthing women See the full release here...
Bringing Birth Back to West Lakes. Health Department Agrees that Midwifery Care is the Key
Continuous midwifery care is set to become a reality in the Hunter, according to consumer group Maternity Coalition, but only for a fraction of the women who need it, and only if they can show that they need it. . See the full release here...
Women in the Bush Need Midwives
Country Mum of 3 speaking in Tamworth
Monday May 5 is International Midwives Day (IMD). To celebrate IMD, Tamworth midwives and local women are meeting to discuss how they can develop best practice maternity care in the region. See the full release here...
Women & Midwives Celebrate International Midwives Day May 5th 2003
The NSW Branch of the Maternity Coalition joins the NSW Midwives Association in celebrating International Midwives Day on Monday May 5. Consumers of maternity services across NSW are joining forces with midwives to send a clear message to NSW Health and to the Government, women want the care of a known midwife. said Ms Caines, NSW President of the Maternity Coalition. See the full release here...
Women & Midwives Celebrate International Midwives Day May 5th, And Mothers' Day 2003
The Victoria Branch of the Maternity Coalition joins the Australian College of Midwives (Victorian Branch) in celebrating International Midwives Day on Monday May 5, and Mothers' Day. Consumers of maternity services across Victoria are joining forces with midwives to send a clear message to the Health Department and to the Victorian and Federal Government: "Women want the care of a known midwife", said Leslie Arnott, President of the Vic branch of Maternity Coalition. See the full release here...
Mothers, Midwives Call For End To Birth With Strangers
Women & Midwives Celebrate International Midwives Day, May 5th 2003
Pregnant women across Australia are joining forces with midwives to send a clear message to state and federal health ministers that women want the care of a known midwife. See the full release here...
Alleviate Rural GP Workload, Increase Services, Enhance Family Support
Rural Women Provide Patterson with the answer to Access and Affordability Issues
Federal Health Minister, Senator Kay Patterson says changes in Medicare are all about access and affordability; She says we need to promote this in rural Australia and that nurses will assist GP's with their workload and she is right, however... See the full release here...
Mothers ask for more choices in birth care
On Saturday, May 1, thousands of tiny baby clothes will be hung on clothes lines in King George Square to highlight the lack of publicly funded midwife care for women in Brisbane, and throughout Australia. The event, organized by the Friends of the Birth Centre, kicks off a week of action around the country, to emphasize the inequality and limited choices women face when it comes to maternity services. See the full release here...
Additional maternity services are on the horizon in the Illawarra.
NSW Health Minister Craig Knowles met with Illawarra Maternity Coalition, Local Members of Parliament and Senior Executive of Illawarra Area Health Service to discuss maternity services in the Illawarra. "At that meeting Mr Knowles expressed his unequivocal support for the principle of continuity of care with a midwife." said Ms Sanders. See the full release here...
Mums March To Demand Commitment From Health Minister On Program To Promote Good Parenting
"Good parenting skills start before a baby is born. The current system in NSW is so fragmented it is failing women and their children. A group of mothers have the answer and they are going to make the NSW Health Minister, Craig Knowles listen," said Ms Caines, NSW President of the Maternity Coalition. See the full release here...
Families Across The Hunter Rally To Demand Action From Politicians To Access Midwifery Care
Women and their families are demanding better maternity care across the Hunter. "Best Practice Maternity Care is when a woman is cared for by one midwife throughout pregnancy, labour and the early post-natal period and yet no woman in the Hunter has access to this care in the public health system," said Ms Caines, NSW President of the Maternity Coalition. See the full release here...
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. See the full release here...
No solution on indemnity crisis, until appropriate practices are used.
In the words of David Molloy of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists there is "no point pouring money into a bottomless pit" The Australian, 8/10/02. "This is what the Federal Government is doing, a band-aid approach costing the taxpayer so unnecessarily," said Dr Barbara Vernon, President of the Maternity Coalition.
Women excluded from major conference on maternity care
Pregnant women, mothers and babies will be protesting today outside the international obstetrics conference in Darling Harbour. The conference, entitled 'Best for Women' excludes women as consumers of maternity services.
See the full release here...
Consumers Have The Solution To Spiralling Medical Indemnity Insurance Costs
The Maternity Coalition, a national consumer driven organisation, will today present a blueprint for maternity reform in Australia, the National Maternity Action Plan (NMAP). NMAP is being launched across the country with strong community and political support.. In the ACT, Greens MLA, Kerrie Tucker will launch NMAP. "NMAP provides government and decision makers with a resource for implementing community midwifery programs across the country similar to the very successful program in Western Australia." said Ms Caines, ACT President of the Maternity Coalition.