Pregnancy, Birth And Beyond

Sally Cusack on the state of maternity services in the Northern NSW Local Health District. In 2009 national health reforms led to the signing of the National Maternity Services Plan (NMSP), which obliged the implementation of midwifery-led continuity of care for all women by 2015. All state health ministers signed this agreement at the COAG of 2010. In 2010 NSW Health created the Towards Normal Birth, a policy directive in line with the NMSP to be implemented by 2015 for all women using maternity services in LHDs. So far, we have the wonderful services at Mullumbimby, Lismore and until recently Murwillumbah, but other than that, our LHD is unlikely to implement with TNB and the NMSP for all women. And it's a very retrograde step to be removing the service at Murwillumbah.With thanks to Carolyn Hastie and Rachel Bryant.To find out more: go to www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Tweed-Valley-Birthing-Service/andwww.facebook.com/groups/FriendsofNNSWLHDBirthingServicesHow are maternity services in your area?