Maternity Funding Boost Inadequate

11 November 2005

Maternity Funding Boost Inadequate

The 17 per cent funding boost for maternity services, announced by the Government today, is inadequate and will not address the crisis of the country's maternity services, says the New Zealand Medical Association.

"The fees paid to LMCs are not enough to keep midwives in the workforce. It is also disappointing that doctors miss out on any extra funding which sends the wrong message to doctors that their role in maternity services is not valued," says NZMA maternity spokesman Dr Don Simmers.

"The Ministry of Health needs to look at a service delivery model in which midwifery services are integrated with medical services so they can complement each other in the interests of the patient. This requires both midwives and doctors to receive adequate funding."

The NZMA also supports a review of the country's maternity services and urges the Government to proceed as soon as possible.

"We have recently made a number of proposals to the Ministry for changes to the maternity system," says Dr Simmers.

ENDS

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