Senator Meg Lees
Independent Senator for South Australia

MEDIA RELEASE

Senate Supports Midwives

The motion by Independent Senator, Meg Lees, calling on the Senate to adopt the National Maternity Action Plan, launched this week by the Maternity Coalition, was today supported in the Senate.

"I am pleased to see that Opposition and cross bench senators have agreed to support the recommendations of the National Maternity Action Plan but am disappointed at the Government's lack of interest in such an important issue," said Senator Lees.

"The National Maternity Action Plan is about choice for Australian women. It's about freedom for women to choose how they are supported during their pregnancy and during the birth of their child.

"The Plan proposes widespread introduction of primary midwifery services offering one-to-one continuity of care to healthy women, with referral to specialists on an as-needs basis.

"This Government has made choice its priority in many other areas including superannuation and education, but when it comes to taking on the vested interests in the health system in order to provide choice for women, it has run for cover."

"The overwhelming evidence is that implementing the NMAP would result in significant savings for both federal and state governments. It is lack of political courage and leadership which is preventing progress.

"In Australia we are locked into an intervention prone medical model for having our children. Australia has one of the highest rates for caesarean section in the developed world.

"In stark contrast, 70% of women in New Zealand choose a midwife as their primary carer.

"It's time for the Government, with the support of all Members of Parliament, to take on the vested interests in the health system and push for modern, appropriate services for women.

Media requests: Kerrie Thornton 02 6277 3203 or 0438 816 376
25 September 2002

Notice of Motion
Senator Lees

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the Senate:-

1. Notes that maternity services in Australia deny the majority of women a choice in how they are supported during pregnancy and birth.
2. Recognises that fewer than 1% of women can currently access one-to-one primary care from midwives.
3. Notes that international research has shown that in industrialised countries only 15% to 20% of women need obstetric intervention in order to achieve a good outcome while in Australia there is at least one medical intervention in 80% of births.
4. Calls on the Senate to support the National Maternity Action Plan launched on 24 September 2002 by the Maternity Coalition.

The Need for Change

• Australia's current services are too costly, overly concentrated on specialists providing primary care to healthy women, and do not reflect international best practice and research. Unlike any other area of the health system, healthy women without medical complaints or complications are receiving specialist care that is part of a fee for service from public funds.
• The OECD countries with the lowest perinatal mortality rates have maternity care systems in which midwives provide primary care for up to 80% of pregnant women. In Australia fewer than 1% of women can currently access one-to-one primary care from midwives. The loss of access by independent midwives to PI insurance in May 2002 has worsened this problem.
• International research cited by the World health Organisation reports that only 15- 20% of women in industrialised countries need obstetric intervention in labour and birth to achieve a good outcome for themselves and/or their babies. In Australia, more than 80% of women receive at least one obstetric intervention in labour or birth.