CALLIDE MP Bryson Head has criticised the Health Department’s plan to introduce increased midwife-to-patient ratios for being unsustainable in regional areas.
In State Parliament last week, Mr Head spoke to the Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2) which would see the legislated introduction of one midwife to every six patients.
“I certainly have legitimate concerns that, without good governance of our health system and specific and appropriate management of these amendments, there will be more pressure on rural and regional hospitals here where staff shortages are already a major concern,” Mr Head said.
“I know that there are midwives in rural Queensland who currently have significantly more patients to manage that what is currently recommended.
“What is the minister doing to address this?
“They are already overworked and the government has failed to attract and retain colleagues for them.
“Women are the ones suffering because of this failure under Labor’s health crisis.”
Mr Head questioned whether there were enough midwives to fill new positions once the laws come into effect and the impact on existing maternity services already struggling to attract staff.
He asked Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to guarantee that no rural community would be worse off accessing midwifery services following the introduction of the bill.
“The electorate of Callide… has 14 hospitals, none of which has an operational maternity ward,” Mr Head said.
“Some of the towns across the electorate have grown significantly in recent years, yet health services, and specifically maternity services, have gone backwards.
“These are vital women’s service and the Miles Labor government has cut them from my community.”
Mr Head he had been contacted by an expectant mother in his electorate, expressing concerns about a new policy regarding midwifery care and having to travel away to have her baby due to no maternity services in her home town.
“If she chooses to birth privately, when she comes home, rather than having the full six seeks of postnatal care, she will only be able to receive two visits,” he said.
“Should this choice be made, she will be forced to travel hundreds of kilometres with a newborn for ongoing natal care.
“I note that there are in sufficient GPs in the bush for her to be guaranteed appointments in due time should she wish to see a GP.”
Mr Head said if this one mother was an example of so many in regional areas with access potentially cut for midwifery care, Ms Fentiman should launch an investigation immediately.
“If any Hospital and Health Service has such a policy in place, I request that an order is immediately issued to stop this practice that discriminates against the women’s choice,” he said.
