ACM is delighted by today’s news that the Queensland Government has committed to legislating minimum midwife ratios and that babies have finally been included in this count.
Queensland is the first jurisdiction in Australia to include both mothers and babies in midwifery ratios and to introduce a minimum standard. Once fully implemented, Queensland mothers can be assured of appropriate care on public hospital postnatal wards with a minimum of one midwife to every six mothers or babies in their care.
ACM wishes to acknowledge the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) who have been campaigning for the introduction of ratios for almost a decade.
ACM also wishes to commend the Palaszczuk Government for being receptive to the recommendations of peak midwifery bodies and responsive to the women of Queensland.
ACM Chief Midwife said 2023 has been a landmark year for maternity care in Queensland.
“Maternity care in Queensland was in desperate need of review at the start of the year with hospitals on bypass, maternity unit closures and finger pointing. We end the year with a commitment to a Chief Midwife in Queensland, a publicly funded homebirth site and midwife-to-patient ratios.”
“Queensland is showing Australia how to prioritise midwifery led care to ensure women and babies have greater access to the maternity care of their choice. We look forward to reviewing the impact of these significant decisions in 2024 and beyond.”