A midwifery model of care at the Far West Local Health District which has continuity of care for pregnant women and families as its primary focus is celebrating eight years of successful continuous service to the community.
The Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) service was established at the Broken Hill Health Service in Far West LHD on 3 July 2015 with the aim to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and experiences for women and families.
The MGP midwives celebrated their 8th Anniversary this month (from left) Claudia Adams, Whitney Harris, Emma Kemp, Shanique Matthews and Donna Ellis. Absent is Telicia Nicholls.
Since its beginnings, the MGP has provided care from a known midwife in early pregnancy through to labour, birth and the initial postnatal period for more than 1,500 women, families and their babies.
Megan Ritchie, Maternity Unit Manager at Far West LHD said the Broken Hill Health Service has been a trailblazer in the MGP field - which is considered now the gold-standard model of midwifery care for women.
“Widespread evidence shows women experience better outcomes when midwives are the primary maternity care givers and work collaboratively with other providers to co-ordinate maternity care,” said Ms Ritchie.
“They experience fewer interventions during birth, reduced caesarean births, less epidural analgesia, and greater satisfaction with care provision.”
The MGP team consists of six midwives, who are backed up by a core group of midwives and Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Corporation midwives.
“Speaking to our team of MPG midwives about the eight-year milestone this month, many expressed to me how honoured they felt to be able to share the trust of their clients at such a special - but also such a vulnerable - time in a woman’s life,” Ms Ritchie said.
“The difference they make and the personalised support they provide women by having somebody who knows them, having a familiar face, and somebody who understands the medical history, the family situation results in more positive outcomes for the whole family.
“The MGP midwives reflected with joy about the trust and connection that they form with both the woman and her family. The women enjoy the support, time, and respect given in that environment to be able to birth their baby. One midwife who moved from Queensland to join the MGP team said she had heard how satisfying and all-encompassing the job is,” Ms Ritchie said.
“The future is bright for the Broken Hill MGP and for the many women and families in the community they support,” she said.
The MGP midwives celebrated the eight-year anniversary with an afternoon tea, featuring a cake in the shape of eight, attended by many of the midwives and doctors.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women aged 50-74 from Far West Local Health District are being urged to book in a free mammogram, with more than 50 (52.9) per cent of women in the region overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screening.
Applications are now open for Far West Local Health District’s (FWLHD) School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships program for students starting Year 11 in 2025.
