Midwife shortage putting expectant mothers and babies at risk

Liberal Party Victoria

Staffing shortages in Victoria’s maternity services has reached a breaking point, with reports of babies and mothers at risk of serious injury as the system struggles to cope.

In June 2018, a Parliamentary Inquiry into Perinatal Services found that there were gaps in the system, such as the provision of perinatal mental health care, shortages in the workforce, and a lack of breastfeeding support.

The report comes as Portland District Health closed its maternity ward earlier this year, leaving women in labour no choice but to travel more than an hour to the nearest hospital to give birth.

Member for South-West Coast, Roma Britnell said the shortages were a direct result of Labor’s mismanagement of the healthcare system.

“Midwives across Victoria are being let down by the Andrews Labor Government after years of being under-funded and under-resourced.

“The Andrews Labor Government has done nothing to fix the staffing shortages even though it was warned four years ago of pressures in the state’s maternity services.”

Only a Matthew Guy Liberals and Nationals Government has a plan to fix our healthcare system and ensure Victorians can get the support they need, when they need it.

/Public Release. View in full here.