'New baby boom' behind midwifery overhaul plan
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The Federal Health Minister says Australia is headed for a baby boom. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)
The Federal Health Minister says Australia's midwifery services need to be updated because the nation is on the cusp of a small baby boom.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon today released a discussion paper on the nation's maternity services.
The paper considers bringing midwives under Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for easier access.
Ms Roxon says the review is timely, because the country is headed for a baby boom.
"We're not trying to set a particular target, we don't have one philosophical view," she said.
"What we would like to do is make sure that women get a real choice about the sort of care that they want, and is appropriate for their pregnancy without our funding arrangements directing them in one direction or another."
Ms Roxon says a high rate of caesarean-sections is another reason for the review.
"We want to make sure ... that we are providing mothers with the choices that they need," she said.
"That means that we've got to revisit whether midwives are being properly utilised in the system, whether they can be better supported, whether our funding arrangements need to change for the type of care that they provide."
