Mercy Family Birth Centre Read the Q&A based on questions people have been asking through “Friends of the Mercy Family Birth Centre”. Q: Why it is closing? Or under threat? A: The Family Birth Centre is not closing. We are introducing a new model of care, called Maternity Group Practice. Maternity Group Practice has been introduced into many other hospitals and is a contemporary and safe low intervention model of care. The Centre’s nurturing environment and natural birth philosophy will be retained. Q: Is this a positive or negative change? A: We believe it’s a very positive change. Women who have previously dealt with a team of midwives will in most cases have access to the same midwife throughout their pregnancy and when the mother and her baby returns home. The woman will also be more likely to remain in the Centre during labour instead of being relocated to a new team and surroundings. Q: Will more or less women have the choice to a low intervention birth with the changes? A: The change to Maternity Group Practice means that more women will have the choice of a low intervention birth under the proposed changes. Previously, some existing medical conditions along with previous or current pregnancy complications may have determined that the Family Birth Centre was not suitable for an expectant mother. Q: Wouldn’t it be better if Mercy Health chose to change its own policies that exclude women from using the service? A: That is exactly what this change means. It will allow for greater medical support to come to the woman within the Centre if it is needed instead of transferring her out of the Centre or excluding her from the Centre altogether. Q: Can you make changes to support midwives to reduce transfer rates using the existing Family Birth Centre model? A: Yes, through a change to Maternity Group Practice. Transfer rates have been shown to decrease dramatically when this model is implemented. Mercy Hospital for Women is proud to employ professional and committed midwives, many of whom are interested in working in the Maternity Group Practice model. Q: Why is the Maternity Group Practice program being introduced to replace the Family Birth Centre model and not some of the beds in the standard care model? A: As part of our two year review of our maternity model of care, we surveyed patients in all care models about their experiences. With regard to Family Birth Centre while there were many positive comments there were also several consistent themes in relation to ways of improving care in the Centre. These themes centred around women wanting improved consistency and continuity of carer and also the negative experiences women had when requiring transfer to the birth suites from the Family Birth Centre. All other Victorian hospitals have closed their Family Birth Centres and we instead have chosen a path that builds on the low intervention philosophy and environment and makes improvements that have been demonstrated in other hospitals. Maternity Group Practice is a contemporary model and is well supported by women, midwives, obstetricians, maternity advocacy groups and peak bodies. Mercy Hospital for Women also provides care for many other women with various risk factors and our care models have been developed to cater for the needs of all of our pregnant women. Q: How does the caseload model ensure one midwife per mother? A: Midwives in the Maternity Group Practice model will have flexible working arrangements to maximise their availability for the women they are caring for. The number of women per midwife will be set such that midwives will provide most if not all of the care for those women. In the event that the primary midwife is not able to be present, another midwife from the same small team will care for the woman. We will have arrangements in place so that women will be able to meet the other midwives in the same team. Q: Will the environment and philosophy stay the same? A: The environment will retain the homely feel that the Family Birth Centre is known for. The low intervention philosophy will also be retained and, in fact, built on. The introduction of Maternity Group Practice will reduce the transfer rates for women who need medical support. Q: What evidence have you based your findings on? A: Maternity Group Practice has been the focus of recent research into low intervention models. We want to build on our experience of the low intervention philosophy and make improvements that have been demonstrated in other hospitals. Q: Will the length of stay change? A: The length of stay will depend on the clinical needs of each woman. Each woman will plan her length of stay with her midwife. The range will generally be between six and 12 hours but women will stay longer if they need to. The same midwife will also visit the mother and baby when they return home. Q: Can continuity of care be addressed in a way that precludes the need to fit out the Family Birth Centre as birthing suites? A: The Family Birth Centre is not being converted to standard birthing suites. Mercy Hospital for Women acknowledges the importance of maintaining the homely environment to ensure women feel safe and comfortable while in labour. Therefore the rooms will primarily stay in their current state with the exception of updating some pieces of furniture which are currently worn and damaged. There will also be some monitoring equipment placed in the rooms but we will make every effort to conceal these as much as possible. Q: What options will be given to the existing midwives in the Family Birth Centre? A: Mercy Health values each and every one of its employees. Midwives will be offered the option of joining Maternity Group Practice. There will be other options available for those who do not wish to join this program. Q: What consultation has been done with Family Birth Centre staff on the changes? A: Extensive consultation has taken place with our staff, other hospitals and peak bodies. We have surveyed staff, held staff forums, group meetings and individual meetings. There is broad support for the introduction of Maternity Group Practice. Q: What does this mean for those who have booked in to the Family Birth Centre and plan to birth there in the coming months? A: The status of current bookings has not changed and women booked in will be able to have their baby in the Family Birth Centre as planned. When we are ready to start booking to the new model of care, women with current bookings will have the option to discuss which of our care options will best meet her expectations. Q: Will the rooms still stay the same? Will my partner still be allowed to stay with me? A: There will be minor changes to the rooms. Partners will still be welcome to stay. Q: Will the double beds, kitchen and large bath remain? A: Yes, all will remain.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 08:27:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015