Announcement of the new Integrated Maternity Service for the North West

The ANMF acknowledges the long awaited announcement made today by the Hodgman Liberal Government in relation to the new Integrated Maternity Service for the North West. This announcement puts an end to months of speculation and rumour.

The initial reaction of ANMF members is one of relief but uncertainty at the unresolved industrial consultation that has occurred so far.

However they note with a keen interest that the Government, in their announcement today claims that this is not ‘about saving money’, whilst wary of the limited time for consultation on the proposed change ANMF members are buoyed by this claim. Neroli Ellis outlined that ‘it was important for our members to know that cost is not the Governments main driver for this change and that a committed by the Government to provide for the safety of North West mothers and babies is a welcomed position by our members’

‘From this our members look forward to siting down with the THS to ensure that the right nursing and midwifery governance structures are in place to enabled midwives on the ground to deliver optimum midwifery services.”

Given that the new integrated maternity service will rely heavily on a Midwifery Group Practice model the ANMF calls upon the Government to quit stalling in the negotiations for a new Statewide Midwifery Group Practice Enterprise Agreement, Ms Ellis states ‘we have been attempting to negotiate with the government since October last year and currently the government have only met twice and have been unwilling to discuss any wage related claim. This will leave midwives on the North West trying to make a decision on the future of their career without the knowing the working conditions and entitlements of one of those options (Midwifery Group Practice) available to them.

“ANMF will now be meeting with our members at the Mersey Hospital on Monday and later next week with our members from the North West Private Hospital to get a full understanding of the governments announcement”.

“ANMF is keen to work with the THS to ensure a smooth transition for both mothers and midwives in the new midwifery models of care in the North West.”
ANMF