A new expert advisory group will be established to improve the birthing experiences of mothers, their partners and families across NSW.
Minister for Health, Ryan Park, said the advisory group would put women at the centre of care and support the delivery of NSW Health’s strategic plan Connecting, Listening and Responding – A Blueprint for Action – Maternity Care in NSW so all women in NSW receive respectful, evidence-based maternity care which improves their experiences and outcomes.
“I’m committed to improving the birthing experience of women, their partners and families right across NSW and I care about getting their input into our maternity services,” Mr Park said.
“The stories coming out of the parliamentary inquiry into Birth Trauma are difficult to hear but it’s important we learn from the lived experience of these women and understand how we can do better.
“This new expert advisory group is the next step in the implementation of our strategic plan Blueprint for Action – Maternity Care in NSW and will ensure women are put at the centre of their own care.”
The Blueprint was developed following survey feedback from more than 18,000 women, families and clinicians sharing their experiences.
NSW Health also heard directly from around 1000 individuals and received 500 public submissions.
Among the key priorities that emerged from the extensive consultation were enhanced access to consistent information, developing a way to routinely capture feedback from women and how clinicians can better support women to make informed decisions about their maternity care.
Mr Park said having patients and their families at the heart of the Blueprint design process has been invaluable.
“This feedback has clearly told us what matters most to women,” Mr Park said.
“A woman’s birthing experience is one that stays with them for life, and I am committed to ensuring that all women no matter where they live, have maternity services which deliver safe, high-quality care and that understand the significance of their birthing experience.”
“The expert advisory group will include midwifery and obstetric leads from each local health district and importantly consumers to guide us on the implementation of NSW Health’s Connecting, Listening and Responding – A Blueprint for Action – Maternity Care in NSW.
“The group will be established in the coming weeks, with a view to having their first meeting in the next few months and will advise NSW Health on the implementation of the Blueprint,” Mr Park said.
The Blueprint is a strategic plan which sets out the vision of NSW Health and provides guidance to strengthen maternity care services to ensure they are collaborative, equitable and woman-centred, while addressing the challenges for maternity care in NSW.
