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Queensland minister for health Shannon Fentimen said the initiatives were crucial . Picture : Steve Pohlner News Corp Australia
Bush babies
New initiatives to help Queensland rural maternity services
By Arshmah Jamal
The Queensland Government has introduced new initiatives to boost regional maternity services in rural and remote areas .
As part of the $ 42 million funding package announced in June , five new actions have been introduced following stakeholder feedback from the Ministerial Maternity Roundtable .
Queensland Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman said the initiatives were crucial in putting together a “ much broader piece of work ”.
“ I have travelled the state of Queensland to talk to women about maternity services – they ’ ve said that they want choice , continuity of care , and services closer to home ,” Ms Fentiman said .
“ We have also incorporated feedback from our hard-working frontline staff and other stakeholders at both the Women ’ s Heath Workforce in March and the Ministerial Maternity Roundtable in June .”
“ While we know we need to grow our own health workforce in the regions , we also need to ensure that we are attracting
2 | nursingreview . com . au the best locums to assist our local workforce when needed – and boosting out First Nations midwifery models of care will be invaluable .”
In August , Queensland midwives rallied outside the state ’ s Parliament House to protest that the $ 42 million in funding still hadn ’ t been allocated .
Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union ( QNMU ) secretary Kate Veach told Nursing Review that midwives wanted the funding to be allocated to maternities and midwifery-led models of care such as Midwifery Group Practice ( MGP ).
“ Queensland women are also experiencing difficulty accessing midwifery services close to home , and funding for MGP would allow women to birth safely where they live ,” Ms Veach said .
The five initiatives introduced for rural and regional areas are :
• funding to train 20 GPs to advance in obstetrics training through a diploma program
• a “ digital passports ” system to help clinicians move between hospitals
• a review of Queensland Health ’ s locum policies to maximise incentives
• additional funding to train doctors , nurses , and midwives on bestpractice woman-centred care and collaboration
“ These initiatives are the direct outcomes of our advocacy to ensure families in these communities have access to fundamental healthcare services .
• boosting First Nations midwifery models of care services Chief of the Australian Medical
Association Queensland ( AMA Queensland ) Dr Maria Boulton , said the pipeline of GPs played an essential role for rural families .
“ GPs play an integral role in delivering obstetrics and anaesthetic services in rural communities ,” Dr Boulton said .
“ The Ministerial Maternity Roundtable and five new initiatives are the direct outcomes of our advocacy over the past year to ensure families in these communities have access to fundamental healthcare services , and the health workforce is best supported to deliver those services .”
“ Meanwhile , the digital passports AMA Queensland advocated for will give our existing medical workforce the flexibility to fill staffing shortages in other regions and keep maternity and other health services operating .” ■