Very welcome news

NEW ZEALAND COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES (INC)

5 May 2006
For Immediate Release

Very welcome news.

That from the New Zealand of College of Midwives following the announcement this afternoon that a first year graduate support programme is to be implemented and funded by the Government.

CEO, Karen Guilliland, says after many years of lobbying by the College for a support programme, today’s announcement is excellent news for the midwifery profession and mothers and babies around the country.

“The First Year of Practice programme will bring the professional support of newly graduated midwives to a similar level currently in place for many others in the health sector, including doctors and nurses.”

Karen Guilliland says midwives are public servants paid by the State and it has been an anomaly that they have had to totally self-fund their entry into community practice.

“The new funding is absolutely in line with the Government’s primary heath strategy where good health starts in the home and the community. Midwifery as a community based service is an essential chain in primary health,” she says.

Today is International Midwives Day and the key message this year is “we need midwives now more than ever.” Karen Guilliland says we need to retain and recruit in order to ensure New Zealand’s maternity sector continues to provide a world-class service.

With regards to the Ministers comments on recent “heavy media scrutiny” and “unfair and unbalanced” reporting, the NZCOM CEO says, “We now need to move on”.

The standards required of midwives in New Zealand are exceptionally high and we enforce that standard rigorously,” she says.

“We know we have a huge amount of support and are confident about the quality of our service. In fact, International Midwives Day being celebrated today has seen a large turnout of, mothers, babies and families supporting midwives right around New Zealand. This level of support is indicative of what midwives see in the sector every day,” she says.

ENDS

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