Thank you to midwives who helped count the babies!
On 5 May, Queensland's midwives conducted an important audit to count the number of babies in their care. It's an important step to collecting the data we need to convince governments why we need midwifery ratios now.
Preliminary results from the audit are in - and they confirm what midwives already know: untenable workloads in midwifery continue, and things need to change now.
About the campaign
Midwifery has changed over the years, but our health system has not kept up – and our mothers, babies and midwives are paying a heavy price.
Incredibly, most newborn babies are not counted in a midwife’s workload in terms of staffing allocation and government funding.
Our midwives are burning out. Workloads are higher than ever before, and acuity levels of both mothers and babies continue to increase. Tragically, midwives are unable to spend the necessary time with the mother and baby to provide the care, education and support they need.
The QNMU is stepping up its campaign around safe workloads in midwifery:
- The Federal Government must overhaul current funding models so newborn babies receive appropriate funding and are counted in midwifery workloads.
- The Queensland Government and private hospitals must introduce midwifery ratios now.
- Both governments must work together to create a midwifery workforce plan, with the aim of growing the workforce and allowing midwives to work to their full scope of practice.
Midwives are best placed to provide advice on midwifery and the babies in their care. It’s time midwives are consulted and at the heart of any discussions around policy and legislative changes.
It's time to take action!
Sign the petition calling on governments to count every baby