Published Sunday, 03 August, 2008 at 12:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
BLIGH DELIVERS BETTER MATERNITY CARE FOR MORE REGIONAL MUMS
Ipswich, Logan and Charleville mothers will now be able to access one-on-one midwifery support from conception to post-birth under a Bligh Government initiative to improve regional maternity services.
Following a Budget announcement of $9 million over four years, Premier Anna Bligh was at Ipswich Hospital today to announce the first enhanced maternity care service locations to benefit from the funds.
“Pregnancy is a very natural part of life, but for many women it can also be a very daunting and vulnerable time,” Ms Bligh said.
“During a visit to Charleville shortly after I became Premier, I heard first-hand from mothers who’d had to travel a long way from home to access pre and post-birth support services.
“I have also spoken to mothers who were treated by 16 different medical and midwifery staff during their pregnancy – I recognise we need to do better for regional mums.
“Which is why we are investing in giving more Queensland mothers access to the range of specialised support services offered by midwives.
“This is about delivering personal, professional and local support to regional Queensland mums and mums-to-be: from the moment they conceive right through to the early weeks of motherhood.
“They will have access to the same midwife, or small team of midwives, for every stage of pregnancy – someone familiar to answer their questions and support them through this very emotional time.
“For many this will give them the option of being supported locally and removing the need to travel to access services, which means they can stay close to home near family and loved ones.
“It will also mean a much more personal touch in maternity care, which can only deliver better outcomes for Queensland mums and their babies,” she said.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said $1 million would be spent on providing the Ipswich, Logan and Charleville services this financial year, and each service would be different depending on community need.
“Individual communities have different support needs, and this program is designed to take this into account.
“In Ipswich and Charleville, the program will be offered to women identified with low risk pregnancies.
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“However, at Logan the service will specifically target young parents, Indigenous women and refugees.
“We expect up to 600 of mothers a year will benefit from the program across Ipswich, Logan and Charleville.
“We will be monitoring the success of the program over the next six months to help us identify other regions that will most benefit from the expanded services – with a view to announcing more locations in 2009,” Mr Robertson said.
Mr Robertson said programs like this reduced the incidence of postnatal depression and resulted in fewer post-birth hospital admissions for mums.
“Among its other benefits are increased breastfeeding rates, fewer obstetric interventions and operative births, and a reduction in the amount of pharmacological pain relief administered to mothers in labour,” he said.
Mr Robertson said there were also great benefits for the midwives providing the care with increased job satisfaction leading to greater recruitment and retention of staff.
The expanded services will be available in all three locations by the end of the year.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3225 2680 (Minister Robertson’s office)
Following a Budget announcement of $9 million over four years, Premier Anna Bligh was at Ipswich Hospital today to announce the first enhanced maternity care service locations to benefit from the funds.
“Pregnancy is a very natural part of life, but for many women it can also be a very daunting and vulnerable time,” Ms Bligh said.
“During a visit to Charleville shortly after I became Premier, I heard first-hand from mothers who’d had to travel a long way from home to access pre and post-birth support services.
“I have also spoken to mothers who were treated by 16 different medical and midwifery staff during their pregnancy – I recognise we need to do better for regional mums.
“Which is why we are investing in giving more Queensland mothers access to the range of specialised support services offered by midwives.
“This is about delivering personal, professional and local support to regional Queensland mums and mums-to-be: from the moment they conceive right through to the early weeks of motherhood.
“They will have access to the same midwife, or small team of midwives, for every stage of pregnancy – someone familiar to answer their questions and support them through this very emotional time.
“For many this will give them the option of being supported locally and removing the need to travel to access services, which means they can stay close to home near family and loved ones.
“It will also mean a much more personal touch in maternity care, which can only deliver better outcomes for Queensland mums and their babies,” she said.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said $1 million would be spent on providing the Ipswich, Logan and Charleville services this financial year, and each service would be different depending on community need.
“Individual communities have different support needs, and this program is designed to take this into account.
“In Ipswich and Charleville, the program will be offered to women identified with low risk pregnancies.
…/2
“However, at Logan the service will specifically target young parents, Indigenous women and refugees.
“We expect up to 600 of mothers a year will benefit from the program across Ipswich, Logan and Charleville.
“We will be monitoring the success of the program over the next six months to help us identify other regions that will most benefit from the expanded services – with a view to announcing more locations in 2009,” Mr Robertson said.
Mr Robertson said programs like this reduced the incidence of postnatal depression and resulted in fewer post-birth hospital admissions for mums.
“Among its other benefits are increased breastfeeding rates, fewer obstetric interventions and operative births, and a reduction in the amount of pharmacological pain relief administered to mothers in labour,” he said.
Mr Robertson said there were also great benefits for the midwives providing the care with increased job satisfaction leading to greater recruitment and retention of staff.
The expanded services will be available in all three locations by the end of the year.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3225 2680 (Minister Robertson’s office)