We have until October 31st to talk to the Government and let them know what changes we'd like to see in maternity services in Australia.

Here is a guide from the Maternity Coalition:

NATIONAL REVIEW OF MATERNITY SERVICES WANTS YOUR INPUT

What has happened

On September 10th 2008 the federal government launched its National Review of Maternity Services in a discussion paper, Improving Maternity Services Department of Health and Ageing - Maternity Services Review - Overview and is seeking responses from women across Australia about how they would like to see their local maternity care improved. They need to hear from you before 31 October.

One of the short comings recognised by the government is the current lack of choice that many women have in where and how they birth, and the difficulty in accessing one-on-one care with a known midwife. Obstacles to accessing this care include funding structures (Medicare), lack of access to professional indemnity insurance for midwives, lack of hospital visiting rights, lack of prescribing and referral rights.

You can help by responding to the Review.

To ensure women's increased access to midwife-led care and improved services, the government needs to hear from you. They want to know whether you are pleased that they are undertaking a review to improve services, and want your views on what sorts of improvements you would like in antenatal services, birthing options, and support around the birth and up to six weeks after.

Your response does not have to be formal and can be a short note or letter just to say you support the idea of expanding midwives ability to care for women and how this could improve your care (or has improved your care) personally. You may like to comment on how you feel about having the opportunity to access a range of birth care options, including in public and private hospitals and at home (paid by Medicare), and tell them some of your own story to show the benefits, or highlight the need for change.

You could point out that if the Government ensures midwives are supported to play a greater role in pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care then women will have:

1. increased access to maternity professionals, especially in rural and remote areas,

2. reduced transport costs to access maternity services,

3. increased likelihood of reducing the high rate of caesarean sections in Australia

4. increased access to antenatal and postnatal services in their local community, which are easier to get to (especially with other children)

5. reduced levels of postnatal depression.

You can have your voice heard by simply emailing maternity.services.review@health.gov.au, or writing a letter to
The Secretariat
Maternity Services Review
MDP 94, GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2600

NOTE: If you wish your letter/response to be kept confidential and NOT put on the government's website, then you should mention this at the end of your letter. Remember your response needs to be received by Friday 31 October 2008.