Dear Dr McGrath
Re: Decision to close the Team Midwifery program at John Hunter Hospital
I am writing to express my extreme concern and dissatisfaction with the
Hunter Area Services' decision to close the Team Midwifery program at
the John Hunter Hospital.
This program (the first of its kind in Australia) was established in
1991 to provide continuity of midwifery care to pregnant and birthing
women in the Hunter area. The program was thoroughly evaluated with a
highly regarded randomised controlled trial and found to be safe,
effective and led to a more satisfying birth experience for women. In
addition, the team midwifery model of care cost less than routine care.
This model has been cited all over Australia and internationally as an
excellent example of midwifery-led care for women. The John Hunter
Hospital has been repeatedly praised in hundreds of forums for its
vision in establishing this model of maternity care. This praise and
recognition will now end.
The decision to close goes against all the current literature and
numerous state and federal government report which repeatedly say that
women should have access to a range of options, that continuity of care
should be a guiding principle and that care must be safe, cost effective
and evidence-based. The latest draft document from NSW Health (The NSW
Framework for Maternity Services 1998) clearly states that the range of
options available to women should be expanded not reduced. This document
also states that "continuity of care and consistent information is
essential to the provision of care ..."
Abandoning the Team Midwifery program is a severe setback to women's
access to maternity services in the Hunter Region. It is unlikely to be
cost efficient and is a retrograde step in the provision of maternity
services in NSW. Abandoning the program will not solve the budgetary
problems in the Hunter Area. The 280 women a year who are currently
cared for by the program will still require quality maternity care.
I hope the decision will be reviewed carefully by all your colleagues
and an alternative road embarked upon.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Homer
Senior Research Midwife
41/133 Cook Road
Centennial Park NSW 2021
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc Mr Craig Knowles, Minister for Health NSW
Ms J Skinner, Shadow Minister for Health NSW
Ms J Meppen, Chief Nursing Officer
Ms Anne Saxton, Director of Nursing, John Hunter Hospital
Caroline Homer
Senior Research Midwife
Midwifery Practice & Research Centre: a collaborative venture of the
Family Health Reaserch Unit (UTS & SESAHS) and the Division of Women and
Children's Health
JH Laws House
St George Hospital
KOGARAH NSW 2217
Tel 61 2 9350 2789
Fax 61 2 9350 3976
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