March 24, 2010
Ballarat Health Services (BHS) is expanding its antenatal program to give women greater choice during pregnancy.
A new midwifery-based option will be introduced by the end of the year, providing care for low and high-risk women.
Executive Director Nursing and Residential Services Geraldine Webster says the program, Team Midwifery, will replace the Primary Midwifery Care Model (PMCP), which excludes women outside the immediate Ballarat area, and those at greater risk of pregnancy complications.
"Ballarat Health Services understands many families across the Grampians region want access to midwifery-based antenatal services, and we've responded by creating a program that will safely cater for a significantly larger number of women," she says.
Ms Webster says Team Midwifery will provide care for up to 800 expectant mothers each year from across BHS's catchment area- an increase of 500 per cent. Women can also participate in a shared care model involving their general practitioner, the consultant antenatal clinic or private obstetric care.
Women who choose Team Midwifery will be cared for by a group of midwives to promote continuity of care. They will be categorized as low or high-risk, and receive medical care during their pregnancy as required.
"One of the best aspects of Team Midwifery is the flexibility of the program. Women who develop complications can now continue to receive midwifery-based care, and enjoy the back-up of medical specialists," Ms Webster says.
The Team Midwifery model is used successfully at other hospitals and promotes high satisfaction levels among patients and midwives.
The Midwife in charge of rolling out the new program, Narelle Basham, says she is excited about the change.
"By establishing Team Midwifery, we're promoting continuity of care and giving so many more women the pregnancy experience they've been asking for," she said.
"The program is also more appealing to Midwives who want to provide woman-centred care in a way that encourages a good balance between work and home life. Its introduction will boost the Maternity Unit's attractiveness as a workplace and help draw more midwives to BHS, which is great for us," she said.
BHS delivered 1278 babies in 2008/09, an increase of 303, or almost 32 per cent, from 2004/05.
"This is about designing our services to benefit as many pregnant women as possible, and supporting our midwives so they can continue to provide the exceptional antenatal care so many families rely on," Ms Webster says.
