State Government moves to support community midwives

25/08/01
Giving birth at home will continue to be an option for Western Australian women, following the resolution of an indemnity issue confronting community midwives.
Health Minister Bob Kucera said a recent decision by Guild Insurance to withdraw professional indemnity for midwives could have seriously affected WA's unique Community Midwifery Program.
Sydney-based Guild Insurance announced in July that it would not be renewing current indemnity insurance for midwives across Australia.
Mr Kucera said the Department of Health had worked hard to help the program identify alternative insurers but none had been located.
"We have found an interim solution while the midwives continue to search for a national or international insurer," he said.
"There are 100 WA women currently on the Community Midwifery Program who will now be reassured they can have their childbirth of choice."
Mr Kucera said he was delighted a solution had been found.
"Established in 1996, the Community Midwifery Program is the only remaining mainstream home birth service operating in Australia," he said.
"The program is jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments and assists with 150 births each year.
"It is an innovative model offering pregnant women and their families continuity of ante-natal, labour, birth and post-natal care in their own homes and they can choose either home or hospital birth.
"It is an important program giving pregnant women more choice when considering the range of birth options."
King Edward Memorial Hospital will employ the community midwives so they can continue to offer care to public patients under the cover of the Government's insurer RiskCover.
Mr Kucera said at a national level a working party of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council was investigating the issue of medical indemnity and midwives would be consulted as part of that process.
Media contact: Fran Robb 9213 7000